The India UK Education Conference 2026 convenes senior leaders from government, universities, industry, and the student community for a day of high-level dialogue, strategic partnership building, and measurable outcomes across the India–UK corridor.

Held in London at a pivotal moment for global mobility, research collaboration, and talent policy, the Conference brings together decision-makers shaping the future of international education. As both countries recalibrate policy frameworks, recruitment models, skills priorities, and research partnerships, this platform provides clarity, evidence, and direction.

The 2026 agenda has been carefully curated to balance policy insight, recruitment strategy, institutional collaboration, employability outcomes, and student welfare. We move beyond volume-based conversations toward sustainable, responsible growth that prioritises quality, credibility, and long-term impact.

At its core, the Conference is designed to ensure that dialogue translates into delivery, partnerships translate into progress, and strategy translates into student success.

THURSDAY, 26 FEBRUARY 2026
8:00
Registration & Networking
Sandy Bhangal
Co-Founder, English Language Standards Authority, UK
8:00 - 9:00
9:15
Welcome Address
Het Parekh
Student at the University of East London

Sanam Arora
Founder & Chair, NISAU
9:15 - 9:25
Grand Hall
9:25
Special Address
Professor Amanda J Broderick
Vice Chancellor and President, University of East London
9:25 - 9:30
Grand Hall
9:30
Koffee with NISAU
Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, India
Sanam Arora,
Founder and Chair, NISAU
Sanam Arora
Founder & Chair, NISAU
9:30 - 9:50
Grand Hall
9:50
The New International Education Strategy of the UK
Sarah Chidgey
Head of International Education, UK Government, Department for Business and Trade

Richard Leach
Education Lead, Indo-Pacific and the Americas
9:50 - 10:05
Grand Hall
10:05
What This Means for Universities, Students, and the UK–India Corridor

Workshop
Sanam Arora
Founder & Chair, NISAU
10:05 - 10:35
Balmoral
10:35
Coffee & Networking
10:35 - 10:55
Balmoral
11:00 - 11:50
The India Opportunity
Scale, Strategy, and how Institutions Can Win In India
Sir Nishan Canagarajah
President and Vice Chancellor, University of Leicester

Alison Barrett MBE
Director India, British Council

Professor Amanda J Broderick
Vice Chancellor and President, University of East London

Dr Nissar Ahmad
Chancellor, Presidency Group of Institutions

Dr Selva Pankaj
Chairman and CEO, Regent Global

Joan Concannan
Chief Reputation & Stakeholder Relations Officer, University of York

Chair: Sanam Arora
Founder & Chair, NISAU
11:00 - 11:45
Grand Hall
11:50
Keynote Address
Jessica Turner
CEO, QS
11:50 - 12:00
Grand Hall
12:05
Reclaiming the Narrative: Building the Triple Helix Toolkit

Workshop

Are You Prepared for a Reputation Crisis for Global Higher Education?

12:05 - 13:00
Grand Hall
13:00
Lunch and Networking
13:00 - 13:45
Balmoral
Invite Only - India UK Education Leaders Roundtable & Working Lunch
13:00 - 13:45
Crown
13:50
India 2026: What the Frontline Is Seeing

Market Signals, Sentiment Shifts & What Institutions Must Clarify
Chair: Shivani Bhalla
Head of International Recruitment, Brunel University London

David Pilsbury
Chief Development Officer, Oxford International Education Group

Emma Payne
Director of International Recruitment, University of Portsmouth

Hersha Pandya
Head of International Recruitment, Bournemouth University

Srinivas Lagadapati
Chief Executive Officer, Leo Global

Simon Read
Senior Vice President of Education EMEA, Flywire

Sirkar Alapati
Chief Executive Officer, Global Tree

Dina Zaher
Head of Partnerships, Enroly
13:50 - 14:35
Grand Hall
The Great Reset: Education, AI & the Next Skills Economy
Dr Selva Pankaj
Chairman & CEO, Regent Global

Sharon Hague
President, English Language Learning, Pearson

Sanam Arora
Founder & Chair, NISAU
13:50 - 14:35
Cornwall
14:40
Delivering India-UK Vision 2035

From Strategic Intent to Practical Platforms
Themes - Branch Campuses in both countries and Employability.
Gareth Thomas MP
Former Minister of Business, Trade and Exports, UK Government

Richard Everitt
Head of Global Development, University of Cambridge

Martin Edmonson
Chief Executive Officer, Graduate Futures Institute

Rohit Kumar
Director of International Recruitment, Partnerships and Mobility, University of York

Lil Bremermann Richards
CEO, Oxford International Education Group

Professor Joshua Castellino
Executive Dean, College of Arts, Law & Social Sciences, Brunel University of London

Delia Heneghan,
Interim Director of Global Engagement, Ulster University

Sanam Arora
Founder & Chair, NISAU

Dr Nirupama Kocherlakota
Independent Higher Education Consultant
14:40 - 15:20
Grand Hall
Leading Across Difference
Chair: Vanessa Varvas
Chief Marketing Officer, University of East London

Professor Julie Hall
Vice Chancellor & Chief Executive, London Metropolitan University

Dr. Annie Jacob Verghese
Director, Hindustan University

Dr Nero Ughwujabo
Senior Strategy Advisor, King's Trust

Louise Morgan
Director of International Development, Liverpool Hope University
14:40 - 15:20
Cornwall
15:20
Everyone Talks Employability. How Do We Really Deliver?

Presented by University of East London
Chair: Martin Edmonson
Chief Executive Officer, Graduate Futures Institute

Adam Doyle
Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Careers and Employer Engagement, University Of East London

Drew Linford
Director of Employability, University of Birmingham

Diya Singh
Indian Student, London School of Economics
15:20 - 16:05
Grand Hall
Access, Assurance & Accountability

English Standards, Ethical Recruitment & Student Outcomes
Chair: Sandy Bhangal
Co-Founder, English Language Standards Authority

Sharan Ghuman
National Community Engagement Lead: Asia - South & South East, Home Office

David Booth
Director Test Development, Pearson

Elizabeth Corsini
Head of English Language Assessment, University of Law

Julia Varga
Senior Admissions Officer, University College London
15:20 - 16:05
Cornwall
16:05
Coffee and Networking
16:05 - 16:20
Balmoral
16:25
Special Remarks
Ian Cann
Chief Revenue Officer, ICEF
16:25 - 16:30
Grand Hall
16:30
From Enrolments to Endpoints

Recruitment Reckoning 2026: Designing International Recruitment for Student Success
Chair: Stefanie Walton
Director of Recruitment and Admissions, University of East London

Simon Emmett
Chief Partner Officer, IDP Education

Gary Davies
Deputy Vice Chancellor, London Metropolitan University

Rohit Kumar
Director of International Recruitment, Partnerships and Mobility, University of York

Simon Read
Senior Vice President of Education EMEA, Flywire

Ian Cann
Chief Revenue Officer, ICEF
16:30 - 17:15
Grand Hall
Business as Usual: UK International Higher Education at a Crossroads
David Pilsbury
Chief Development Officer, Oxford International Education Group

Nick Braisby
Interim Vice-Chancellor, University of Bradford

Anne Marie Graham
Chief Executive Officer, UKCISA

Dr. Diana Beech
Assistant Vice President, Policy and Government Affairs, City St George's, University of London

Sanam Arora
Founder & Chair, NISAU
16:30 - 17:15
Crown
How Do You Land Jobs in 2026?
Or Better Yet — How Do You Become Irreplaceable?

For Students and Recent Graduates
Rhianna Skeates
Careers Consultant (International), Queen Mary, University of London

Utkarsh Amitabh
CEO, Network Capital

Pat Saini
Head of Immigration and India Practice, Penningtons Manches Coopers LLP

Jetal Zala
International Student turned Entrepreneur & Owner, Hyderabadi Paradise
16:30 - 17:15
Cornwall
17:15
Wrap-up
17:15 - 17:20
Grand Hall

The Venue

De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms,
London,
WC2B 5DA