Forum Topics

• Industrial AI, Data Fabric, and Metaverses
• Transforming to 21st Century Operations
• Energy Transition and Industrial Sustainability
• Asset Performance Management
• Automation Innovations
• Cybersecurity for Digitalization and Sustainability
• Digital Twins and Connected Smart Machines
• Digital Workforce and Culture
• Industrial IoT Platforms, Edge Infrastructure, and End Devices
• Supply Chain Sustainability

Featured Speakers

The following executives are featured speakers at the Forum.

Whit McConnell

Chief Automation & Process Control Engineer
ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering

Whit is responsible for ExxonMobil’s strategy for process control and automation technology across all business lines. Whit joined Exxon in 1999 as a Control Systems Engineer supporting various DCS and advanced control environments. He has held a number of leadership roles in both downstream manufacturing and research & engineering. He helped drive standardized design and sustainment practices across the Corporation as well as technology transformations such as the introduction of virtualization technologies into industrial control environments. He currently supports a number of initiatives such as Open Process Automation and the use of cognitive technologies to support autonomous operations capability. In a large corporation, collaboration is an important key to success and Whit is passionate about connecting people and teams to focused objectives.

Richa Sharma

India Lead, Universal AI Initiative
MIT Open Learning

Richa brings over a decade of experience at the intersection of energy transition, AI, and business strategy. At MIT Open Learning, she drives the scaled adoption of the Universal AI (UAI) initiative – the flagship program that helps learners progress from AI literacy to domain-specific fluency across sectors such as energy, commerce and healthcare. Previously at Schlumberger, Richa served as the Chemistry and Measurements Program Manager and Technical Co-Lead for Mergers & Acquisitions in CCS technology. She has led cross-functional teams of scientists and engineers, managing high-impact programs while aligning innovation with strategy for energy transition. As the Center Learning Champion and technology scouting lead, she collaborated with the global learning community to integrate energy transition technologies into internal learning programs and courses for company-wide adoption and has also held leadership positions in professional societies. An alumna of IIT Delhi and MIT, Richa was recognized by the U.S. National Academy of Engineering with the Frontiers of Engineering (FOE) honor—an award given annually to 100 outstanding engineers in the United States. She holds multiple patents and has authored many publications.

Amit Singh

Sr. Engineer, Instrument Engineering Services
OQ

Amit is a seasoned Instrumentation and Control Systems expert with two decades of global experience leading mega-capital projects across the downstream oil & gas, petrochemical, and refining sectors. He serves as Subject Matter Expert and Technical Authority for Instrumentation & Control Systems at OQ’s Technical Services Engineering Division. A certified OT Cybersecurity Expert (ISA) and Functional Safety Engineer (TÜV Rheinland), Amit is an active contributor to ISA standards development committee and a recognized speaker at leading international technical forums. His work focuses on advancing strategic lifecycle management, industrial control system cybersecurity integration, and asset reliability across critical industrial operations.

Praveen Kumar Gupta

Addl. General Manager, Project Engineering - C&I
NTPC

Praveen has over 25 years of industrial experience in power plant instrumentation & control systems covering all the segments like erection & commissioning, maintenance, renovation & modernization, engineering and consultancy. He is an expert in DDCMIS systems and has been instrumental in implementation of many new technologies in power plant control systems like Fieldbus, IMCC, non-intrusive electrical actuators, automatic stockyard system, early warning system for HEPs, etc. Praveen holds a B. Tech (Control & Instrumentation) and a PGDBM (Finance). He has many professional certifications such as Energy Auditor, SIL and Profibus.

Sunita Devi  

Group Lead for Open Process Automation
Reliance Industries Limited

With 18 years of experience in the refinery and petrochemical industry, she brings deep expertise in the commissioning and lifecycle management of DCS, PLC, and SIS across various projects within RIL-Jamnagar Mfg. Division. Sunita is a TÜV-certified Functional Safety Professional and a recognized SME at RIL in Control System Reliability and Foundation Fieldbus Technology. Her core areas of interest include Industrial Control System (ICS) Reliability & Cybersecurity, OPC-UA, Virtualization, Fieldbus Technology, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). She holds a B.Tech. in Electronics and Instrumentation.

Akash Shukla

Chief Manager, Information Systems
BPCL

Akash's journey is not just about the number of years (15) he has spent at BPCL; it is a testament to his unwavering commitment and passion for his work. He has carved a niche for himself in the challenging field of cybersecurity. His expertise includes the implementation and management of various systems and applications critical to the refining process, including MES and Oil Accounting & Reconciliation. A significant achievement was his instrumental role in implementing the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) across all four refineries, including the erstwhile Numaligarh refinery. He also played a pivotal role in the commissioning of the very first Petrochemical complex (PDPP) in the Kochi refinery. Akash holds a B.E in Computer Science.

List of Executive Speakers

Agenda

Following is the schedule for the Forum sessions.  All times are India Standard Time (IST). Presentations are made in English.

Thursday, July 10

Note: PATS O-PAS & Industry 4.0 Seminar/HANDS ON Date: July 10, 2025 – 2PM to 4PM at SMAR booth. 

Friday, July 11

Location

The Bangalore Forum is held at Radisson Blu Atria Hotel.

Radisson Blu Atria Hotel  
1 Palace Road  
Bengaluru, 560001  
India  
1 800 1080 333