Mr. Kiran Karnik

A post-graduate from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, Mr. Karnik holds an Honours degree in Physics from Bombay University. 

Mr. Karnik for over 20 years was with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). He has held the position of Founder-Director of ISRO’s Development and Educational Communicational Unit where he pioneered the India-USA Satellite Instructional TV Experiment (SITE) and the Kheda Communication Project.

Mr. Karnik has served as Special Assistant to the Secretary-General of UNISPACE 82 in the United Nations. His consulting assignments include organizations like WHO, The World Bank, UN Institute for Disarmament Research, Ford Foundation, UNESCO in Afghanistan.

Kiran Karnik was President of NASSCOM, the premiere advocacy organization for the IT software and services industry in India, till January 2008.

He has been a member of many key government committees, and is presently a member of the Scientific Advisory Council to Prime Minister. He also has a deep involvement with a number of NGOs in the areas of education and environment. He is currently Vice Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Commonwealth Connects programme.