Dr Ananth Padmanabhan
Ananth Padmanabhan is the Dean, Academic Affairs at Sai University. He is also a visiting fellow at the Centre for Policy Research. His research interests are in the fields of technology policy, intellectual property rights, and innovation scholarship. He has authored a leading treatise, Intellectual Property Rights: Infringement and Remedies (LexisNexis, 2012), and co-edited an important volume, India as a Pioneer of Innovation (OUP, 2017). Previously, Ananth worked with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, New Delhi, starting their technology policy research initiatives in India and the Global Technology Summit in Bengaluru, an annual forum for stakeholder conversations on technology policy. He has practiced law in the Madras High Court and taught at several institutions including the National Law University, Jodhpur, and the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru. He holds doctoral and master’s degrees in law from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Rahul Matthan
Mr. Rahul Matthan is a founder partner at Indian law firm Trilegal Partners and headed their Telecom, Media and Technology (TMT) practice. He currently serves on the management committee of the firm. His work includes technology transfers, intellectual property strategy advice, technology M&A, venture capital investment, business process outsourcing, unfair competition, distribution and supply arrangements, dispute resolution relating to technology companies, electronic commerce, etc. He has worked with various departments of the Government of India and advised them in policy matters related to the national spatial data infrastructure, and intellectual property. Mr. Matthan has authored a book titled The Law Relating to Computers and the Internet. Since then, he has published numerous articles and thought pieces on various issues relating to computers, the internet and other new technologies.
Mahesh Menon
Mahesh Menon is a faculty at the Daksha Fellowship. Formerly, he was a faculty at the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences. Prior to this, Mr. Menon has been Visiting Faculty at the National Law School of India University, Legal Officer at Asian-African Legal Consultative Organisation and Associate Advocate at The Chambers of Advocate Dinesh R. Shenoy. His research interests lie in Public International Law, International Humanitarian Law & International Criminal Law.
Geraldine Laybourne
Geraldine Laybourne was a cable programming pioneer in the 80s and 90s: she led the team that created Nickelodeon and Nick at Nite. She also served as president of Disney/ABC Cable Networks (1996-1998) where she ran cable programming for the Walt Disney Company and its ABC subsidiary. She founded Oxygen Media which she sold to NBC Universal in 2007.
Her current focus is in the city of Poughkeepsie where she is co-founder of DAY ONE Early Learning Community, a project aimed at creating a model for early learning opportunities for kids zero to four. She is working with MASS Design Group on community oriented revitalization projects and is on the Executive Committee of the Poughkeepsie Children’s Cabinet.
She currently serves on the board of directors of 9 Story, Common Sense Growth, Katapult Studios and Betaworks, is on the board of Vassar College and is Vice Chairman of the board of Vital Voices. She previously served on the board of directors at JCPenney, Electronic Arts, Symantec, Move.com and Kindercare.
