Place, Space and the Making of a New Global University Sanam Arora, Joan Concannon, Asad Lalljee, Supriya Nagarajan, Vishakha Yaduvanshi and Amrita Sadarangani (chair)
Event details
How can we forge vibrant new creative spaces that bring people and communities together across the globe?
To celebrate the launch of the University of York’s Mumbai campus in India, our event brings together cultural leaders, diplomats and artists to explore the intersection of education, geography and the arts.
Grounded in our 2026 festival theme, Place and Space, our expert panel will discuss how universities can help shape the creative and intellectual landscapes of great global cities. Join us to discover how these cross-continental creative connections are built and learn about our exciting vision to bring the York Festival of Ideas to Mumbai.
Our speakers include Vishakha Yaduvanshi, Consul General of India; Assad Laljee, Curator for the Royal Opera House in Mumbai and CEO of AVID Learning; Sanam Arora, the Founder and Chair of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK; Supriya Nagarajan, one of the UK’s most sought-after Carnatic vocalists and Artistic Director of Manasamitra; and Joan Concannon, Director of York Festival of Ideas and Chief Reputation and Stakeholder Relations Officer at the University of York.
Our event is co-curated with the University of York Mumbai and AVID Learning, and is chaired by Amrita Sadarangani, Chief Academic Services Officer at the University of York Mumbai.
About the speakers
Sanam Arora is the Founder and Chair of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU). She is also the chief architect of the India UK Achievers Honours and a consistent voice championing for international students in the UK. Professionally, she is a senior strategist to the Investment Management industry. For her work towards the welfare of young Indians abroad and promoting the India-UK educational relationship, Sanam has won numerous awards, including most recently the prestigious PIEoneer award for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry and holds the Honorary Studentship of the London School of Economics SU.
Joan Concannon is the Director of York Festival of Ideas and Chief Reputation and Stakeholder Relations Officer at the University of York. Her portfolio includes reputation and brand management, stakeholder engagement identifying opportunities to develop scalable quadruple helix partnerships to drive public, private, academic, and philanthropic income diversification with a specific focus on aligning with regional economic growth and investment priorities. She is responsible for a portfolio of functions including Communications (institutional brand strategy, digital engagement, media and research communications, staff and student communications and events and public engagement), the Office for Philanthropic Partnerships and Alumni (OPPA) and Economic Development.
Asad Lalljee transforms cultural platforms into catalysts for policy dialogue, international collaboration and creative innovation. As CEO of AVID Learning, Curator of Royal Opera House Mumbai and a Salzburg Global Seminar Fellow, his work focuses on strengthening the intersection of culture, policy, technology and sustainable growth within the creative industries. For over 16 years, he has played a key role in shaping India’s cultural landscape through leadership across major arts platforms and as a member of the Tourism and Culture Committee at Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry since 2018. Through strategic collaborations with diplomatic missions across 15+ countries, his work fosters global cultural exchange, interdisciplinary dialogue and institutional partnerships. He bridges culture, technology and policy, positioning the arts as a powerful instrument of soft power, inclusive growth and cross-cultural understanding.
Supriya Nagarajan has a unique voice in the British music scene and creates concept-driven immersive music productions that push boundaries and encourage thought. As the founder of Manasamitra, Supriya has created internationally presented immersive works including Lullaby -Sonic Cradle, Sound of Tea and Meltwater, and has performed across the UK and globally, including Harpa Reykjavik Concert Hall, Southbank Centre and Casa da Música. Past presentations at York Festival of Ideas, such as Supriya and Duncan Chapman’s Sita: The Multifaceted Heroine of Ramayana, have shown her ability to blend lyrical performance with narrative and engagement, making complex traditions accessible and thought-provoking.
Amrita Sadarangani is Chief Academic Services Officer at the University of York Mumbai. Formerly Senior Director and Head of Global Research Alliances at Ashoka University, one of India’s most prominent liberal arts and sciences institutions, Amrita was instrumental in supporting Ashoka’s transformation into a globally-engaged research university. As Chief Academic Services Officer at the new University of York Mumbai, Amrita will lead academic operations and strategy, overseeing research support and student success and wellbeing. She will play a key role in building partnerships and industry engagement, ensuring the University delivers research-led education aligned with India’s drive for growth and York’s vision as an institution dedicated to public good.
Consul General Vishakha Yaduvanshi is committed to strengthening India-UK relations by facilitating consular services, promoting trade and investment, and fostering deeper cultural and people-to-people ties. Based in Manchester since 2025, her previous assignments have included serving at the Embassy of India in Moscow, Russian Federation; as Under Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), New Delhi, handling the Russia Desk and the Overseas Citizens of India Desk; and as Chief of Staff to the High Commissioner and Economic and Public Diplomacy Officer at the High Commission of India in London. Vishakha holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Aligarh Muslim University, India, and a Master’s degree in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Oxford, UK.
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