Smitha Karki is an accomplished IT professional and community leader who has called Sydney home since 1996. Originally from India, she moved to Australia shortly after marrying Ishwar Hegde on 15th December 1995, facing the challenges of a new culture and limited support with resilience and determination. Driven by a desire to grow personally and professionally, she began her career in the IT service industry, accumulating seven years of experience before joining Woolworths Group.
Babu Mahadevan, affectionately known as Dev Babu, is an engineer by profession whose life is deeply rooted in spirituality and Vedantic traditions. Beginning his career as a Marine Engineer, he navigated the high seas from 1982 to 1995 before settling in Sydney, Australia. Transitioning into the IT industry, Babu has enjoyed a successful professional journey and currently serves as an Enterprise Architect with the NSW Police Force, a role he humbly attributes to the grace of Lord Sri Krishna.
Anshul Chaudhary, known spiritually as Abhay Chaitanya Das, is a devoted disciple of His Holiness Bir Krishna Goswami Maharaj. With over 25 years of dedication to Krishna Consciousness, he formally received initiation in 2020. His transformative journey began with His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada’s edition of the Bhagavad Gita, profoundly shaping his life’s direction and philosophy.
Srinivas Rao was born in Mysore, Karnataka, and raised in a deeply religious family. His father, a Vedic scholar, introduced him to the Bhagavadgita at the age of 3, setting the foundation for a lifelong spiritual and philosophical journey. Encouraged by his teachers and school management, Srinivas excelled in Bhagavadgita recitation competitions at interschool, district, and state levels, winning numerous accolades throughout his schooling.
The Bhagavadgita played a pivotal role in shaping Srinivas’ life, instilling in him strong Vedic values that continue to guide both his personal and professional decisions.
Dr. Perumal Janarthanan, widely known as Dr. Jana, is a Specialist Medical Practitioner in General Pathology with extensive experience since 1981. Throughout his distinguished career, he has served as a Senior Visiting Medical Officer at prominent hospitals, including Taree Base Hospital, Coffs Harbour Hospital, Albury Hospital, Orange Base Hospital, and Nepean Hospital. Dr. Jana established and successfully operated his private pathology laboratory until 2006, employing approximately 50 staff members.
Professor Dinesh Chahal is a distinguished academician, social activist, and youth motivator currently serving as Professor and Dean of International Affairs at the Central University of Haryana, India. Born in the village of Frian Kalan in Jind, Haryana, he earned his Ph.D. in Education and Master’s degrees in History and Education from Panjab University, Chandigarh, along with NET qualifications in both fields.
Naresh Kumar Kaushik is a visionary robotics engineer, entrepreneur, and founder of Tanshu Australia – a dynamic group of companies operating across Engineering, Energy, Robotics, Agro, Textile, and Education sectors. Since establishing Tanshu in 2010, Naresh has successfully expanded his ventures across Australia and India, combining technical excellence with a deep commitment to quality and integrity. Today, his businesses span specialized subsidiaries including Tanshu Metal Products, Tanshu Robotics and Automation, and Tanshu Green Energy Pty Ltd, among others.
Deepak Vinod is a seasoned change leader, certified youth coach, spiritual speaker, and accessibility advocate who integrates the timeless teachings of the Bhagavad Gita into every facet of his life and leadership. With over 20 years of experience in Change Management, Service Delivery, and Customer Engagement, Deepak currently serves as Manager – Customer and Business Services at the Department of Communities and Justice, NSW.
