On behalf of the organizing committee, I welcome all of you to experience the warmth of Mangaluru, the vibrant "Gateway to Karnataka". This year's NIPM National HR Conference, holds immense significance as we, the architects of India's human capital, come together to chart a course towards a developed nation by 2047.

We all recognise that human capital is the cornerstone of any developed nation. India boasts a young’s population with over 26.5 crore students in schools, 4.3 crore young people pursuing higher education and 1 crore + graduating yearly now. While this is a powerful asset, the challenge lies in harnessing it effectively. Adding to this is the fact that we are in the midst of the Digital Revolution sweeping the world, with AI and Quantum computing accelerating change. India is the 3^rd largest Digital power globally and leading this change in many areas.

This conference is a clarion call to the HR fraternity. We must go beyond educating and skilling our youth; we need to equip them with the agility, innovation, and global mindset to thrive in the digital revolution. It needs a paradigm shift in the education system to prepare graduates who are not just job-ready but future-ready.

This also demands a transformative change of HR practices to fosters a culture of lifelong learning, creating and sustaining a curious mindset and technical skills within organizations, one that embraces continuous up skilling, and reskilling of the workforce leveraging technology to manage continuing high velocity change.. Attracting, retaining, skilling and motivating top talent will be paramount.

In this journey, we HR professionals must leverage the use of technological tools such as AI to identify skills gaps, personalize learning pathways, and build future proof talent pipelines. Additionally, we must champion a work environment that promotes well-being and innovation, which ignites the entrepreneurial spirit of our youth.

This conference will be catalyst to build networks that forges new collaborations, a hallway to exchange ideas that sparks collective aspirations. It also presents a unique opportunity for us to collaborate, share best practices, and create a roadmap for building a highly skilled, globally competitive workforce. Let us discuss cutting-edge strategies, explore innovative learning and development models, and delve into the ethical considerations of a technology-driven future. Imagine, India of 2047: a nation powered by a vibrant, skilled workforce, a leader of the digital revolution, where every young person can achieve their aspirations. Through this conference, let us be the catalyst to transform the full potential of India's human capital into a crucible for innovation, growth and development for all . Let us emerge with actionable strategies and a collective commitment to shape a future where our workforce remains the center of organizational success.

I look forward to a dynamic and productive conference. Welcome to Mangaluru, and welcome to the journey of building a developed India! Behalf of Organising Committee, NATCON 2024