Subject Expertise - Salil Deshpande is a seasoned Post-Production Leader with over 23 years of experience across Film, Television, OTT, and Digital platforms. He specializes in designing and managing end-to-end post-production pipelines, combining technical innovation with creative vision while ensuring efficiency in budgets and timelines. Having led global operations at companies such as Vice Media Group, Reliance Media Works, Red Chillies Entertainment, and Prime Focus Ltd., Salil has been at the forefront of technical workflow innovation and studio-level execution. Currently, he co-produces independent films and consults studios on hybrid production models, remote workflows, and AI-driven post-production solutions.

Subject Expertise - Sandesh Pawar is a design educator and AVGC-XR specialist with over 20 years of experience across production, project management, and academia. Currently an Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai, he has previously taught at MIT Institute of Design and contributed to curriculum innovation, faculty mentorship, and industry-academia collaborations. His career spans roles at Tata Elxsi, Beehive Animation Studios, and Aptech, giving him a unique blend of production expertise and academic leadership. Pursuing a Ph.D. in Design (HCI) at MIT-ADT University, Pune, Sandesh is also focused on advancing comics and sequential art through cultural storytelling, original IP development, and cross-medium innovation in animation, gaming, and XR.

Subject Expertise - Anand Pandey is a creative technologist, educator, and seasoned showrunner with over 27 years of experience in animation, XR, scriptwriting, and studio building. Currently at IICT, he leads AI-integrated filmmaking and designs modular pipelines and curricula that transform learners into creators. His focus on human-AI collaboration, multi-agent workflows, and industry-ready storytelling is grounded in ethics, innovation, and an entrepreneurial mindset.

Subject Expertise - "Mr. Sathish Narayanan is a seasoned professional with over three decades of experience in advertising, design, animation, visual effects, Video production, Gaming, and the AR/VR industry. A visionary leader and mentor, he is the founding member of Design Media & Edutainment Solutions Pvt Ltd, AVGC Skills Pvt Ltd, and co-founder of Nectar Pixels Pvt Ltd. His contributions have earned him prestigious accolades, including being a Grand Jury member at the New York Film Festival, the FICCI BAF Awards, and a citation from the Ministry of Skills and Entrepreneurship for outstanding contribution for Skills Development. Holding a Master of Fine Arts in Industrial Design, Mr. Narayanan serves as a core committee member of the AVGC Sub Task Force under the Ministry of Skills and Entrepreneurship, Government of India. He is also an advisor to the Media & Entertainment Skills Council, an expert for World Skills International, and the Chief Expert for World Skills India in Graphic Design. He has pl

Subject Expertise - Ajay Kumar Srinivasan, Head of Esports, Gaming & XR at IICT, brings 10+ years of global experience across India, Singapore, and Dubai. A Certified Master Trainer – AR/VR Producer (NSQF Level 7) and AVGC 40 Under 40 awardee, he has trained over 10,000 learners, mentored IndiaSkills competitors, and created award-winning, industry-aligned curricula for universities nationwide. As a hands-on creator, he has developed game projects, XR simulations, and AR experiences for brands in India, Sri Lanka, and international markets, while actively supporting the indie gaming and XR ecosystem through collaborations and community building.

Subject Expertise - Mukul Chakraborty is an animation professional with over 24 years of experience, having worked on globally acclaimed projects for studios such as DreamWorks, Disney, and Nickelodeon. Alongside his industry expertise, he is deeply passionate about training and has mentored numerous artists who now excel at leading national and international studios. Specializing in Acting for Animation, Mukul combines creative excellence with a strong commitment to nurturing the next generation of animation talent.