Engineering, Technology & Research Talks

Dr Hari delivers invited keynotes, plenaries, and talks spanning engineering education, AI, and systems thinking, with a strong emphasis on translating theory into practice. Her speaking portfolio bridges technical depth (power-electronics, AI-enabled systems) with pedagogical innovation and institutional transformation, often addressing how universities can design curricula for complex, interdisciplinary, and rapidly evolving contexts. She regularly engages diverse audiences–from global academic conferences and policy forums to industry leaders and students–with themes including engineering education transformation,  future of work, diversity in STEM work-force, interdisciplinary careers and leadership pathways.

Her talks are characterised by a systems-level perspective, connecting pedagogy, policy, and practice to enable scalable and impactful change in engineering education.

Selected Keynotes and Invited Talks:

1. Jan 2026: Keynote on “Rethinking Engineering Education: Systems Thinking for a Complex, AI-Driven World”, International Conference on Transformations in Engineering Education (ICTIEE), Indo-Universal Collaboration on Engineering Education (IUCEE), GITAM University, Bengaluru, India
2. 2025: Inaugural keynote on “The AI-Powered Future: A Systems Perspective on Engineering Education, Practice, and Research”, International Conference on Recent Advancements in Computing & System Design (InRACS), College of Engineering Vadakara, India.
3. 2024: Keynote on “Engineering for ALL: Diverse Minds, Stronger Solutions” for the 10th Anniversary Celebrations of International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) hosted by Women’s Engineering Society (WES)
4. Jan 5, 2024: Selected presentation on “How Can a Holistic Approach to Practice, Research and Policy for Sustainable Engineering Education Be Developed? An Investigation”, Research in Engineering Education Symposium (REES) 2024, Hubli, India (200+ delegates).
5. Jan 6, 2024: Invited valedictory closing remarks on “Research in Engineering Education and REES Significance in the Global Landscape”, Research in Engineering Education Symposium (REES) 2024, Hubli, India (100+ delegates).
6. Jan 14, 2024: Keynote and mentoring session on “Future of Careers and Engineering Higher Education Landscape in the UK and Opportunities at UCL Engineering”, Pearl Valley School, Kerala, India (30 selected students).
7. Jan 24, 2024: Keynote on “Reengineering Engineering Education with UCL IEP”, VIT University, Chennai, India (senior leadership audience).
8. Jan 25, 2024: Invited talk on “Future of Engineering and Engineers of the Future”, VIT University, Chennai, India (400+ undergraduate students).
9. Feb 16, 2024: Keynote on “Empowering Your Quest in Higher Education and Shaping the Careers of Tomorrow”, Saïd Business School, Oxbridge Gateway Programme, UK (100 selected students).
10. Apr, 2023: Invited plenary talk on “Training Students to Learn Online Successfully”, Times Higher Education Digital Universities Week, Leeds, UK (600+ delegates).
11. June, 2023: Selected presentation on “Embedding Engineering Thinking-Based Design and Delivery in a Degree Apprenticeship: A Potential Curriculum Model for Electronics Engineering”, Engineering Education Research Network UK (EERN UK), University of Warwick, UK (100+ attendees).
12. Aug, 2023: Invited panellist for ministerial roundtable on “Barriers for Women in STEM” with Paul Scully, Westminster, UK.
13. Oct, 2023: Invited keynote on “Empower to Engineer: Powering Impactful Careers and Pioneering Leadership Pathways for Women”, University of Texas at Austin and Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute webinar (320 registrants).
14. Dec, 2023: Invited lecture on “Trailblazing Academia: Pedagogical Innovations”, SRM Institute of Science and Technology Faculty Induction Programme, India (424 academics).
15. Feb 2022: Panel Chair on “Universities’ and Business’ Shared Role in Regional Development”, launch of Engineering Professors’ Council Crucible Project, UK.
16. Jan 2022: Speaker for inaugural webinar on “Interdisciplinary Skills for the Future of Work”, consortium of engineering colleges, India.
17. 2022: Invited career talk on “Preparing for an Interdisciplinary Future”, Women’s Engineering Society (WES) Annual Conference, UK.
18. 2021: Invited panellist on “The Future of STEM Education: Hybrid Learning and Beyond”, Times Higher Education panel with Guy Daly, David Rumsey, Louise Krmpotic, and Alistair Lawrence, international webinar
19. Jan 2020: Keynote on ‘Ungendering Engineering, Technology & Research: Breaking into Labs and Boardrooms’, Pehia Technology Summit – 2021, Kerala, India.
20. Dec 2020: Plenary talk on ‘Rethinking the Vision for Engineering Education in the VUCA World’ at ‘The 18th International Conference on Education Management in the 21st Century’, Herzen State University, Russia.
21. Nov 2020: Welcome address ‘Technology alone does not Innovate, Teachers Do!’ conference on ‘Innovative Educational Technologies for Sustainable Development of Society’, Federation of Women, Russia.

COVID impact on Engineering Education webinars:

1. Aug 2020: ‘Future of Work for Women Post-COVID19: Looking at the Tech Career Landscape through a Gender Lens’ Talk series conducted by DTW ‘Weaving Technology into the Fabric of Everyday Life’
2. July 2020: Invited webinar ‘Engineering and Engineers in the face of COVID-19′ @IEEE WIE, College of Engineering Poonjar: addressed around 200 engineering students
3. June 23 2020: Invited talk and panel session ‘Indian Women, Global Journey’s in Engineering’ conducted by  Vigyanshaala International on ‘International Women in Engineering Day’, under their flagship program, 𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐚- 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐌. 
4. June 2020: Invited webinar at SRM University Alumni Talk series: Addressed 250+ engineering students on ‘COVID-19 impact on Future of Engineering and Innovation’.
5. May 2020: Invited Instagram live talk and interaction on ‘Challenges and Opportunities of Digital Education in the face COVID-19’ at RIT University expert series attended by 460+ engineering students.

Selected invited keynotes, plenary talks and research presentations:

1. Nov 2019: Invited Keynote ‘Reimagining stem education in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI)‘ at University of Hertzen, St.Petersburg, Russia, Nov 19-20, Conference on Management of 21^stcentury : Education in the Digital Economy era.
2. Sept 2019: Invited Talk ‘I’m Possible – Every Woman is a Super Woman! for “SHE”- (Scheme for Her Empowerment) at Govt Engineering College, Kannur, India.
3. June 2019: Invited Keynote and panelist at Oxford University Women in Tech Leadership series- ‘Breaking into Leadership’ alongside the University Registrar and ‘Girls Who Code’ Post-doctoral fellow Dr.Tracey. 
4. April 2019: Invited Keynote Speaker at Google Women Tech-Maker International Women’s Day Celebration,Kozhikode, India ‘My journey into Research, Entrepreneurship and Science Communication’.
5. Feb 2019: Invited Tech Keynote at Cochin University Technical Fest, ‘Perspectives on AI for Power Electronics’: Invited to deliver the inaugural keynote address at the prestigious Cochin University of Science & Technology Tech Fest flagged off by the Vice-Chancellor and Head of the Department. 
6. May 2018: Finalist at the Future Power Challenge conducted by EPSRC Centre for Power Electronics UK ’GaN Power Electronics using Machine Learning’ : Won special commendation for the research work presented.
7. March 2018: Invited TEDx talk at Cambridge University TEDx series, ‘AI – Making or Breaking Education’ : Amongst the ten people invited to deliver the 2018 TEDx talk at University of Cambridge. 
8. March 2018:  Invited Keynote for DST (Dept of Science & Technology) Govt Sponsored Vigyan Jyoti Program at IIT Palakkad, India ‘Life at Cambridge University- GaN Research, Social Enterprise & More’: Invited to address a select group of girls selected as part of IIT women empowerment initiative. 
9. Aug 2017: Invited speaker at Concord College, Shrewsbury, UK ’GaN Power Electronics and Applications’: Invited to give a lecture for 20 Engineering aspirants from across the globe. 
10. March 2017: Invited Keynote talk at the International Conference on Power Engineering and Control, PECCON, VIT University, India ’GaN Power Electronic Solutions for a Greener and Smarter World’ : The only student invited to give a keynote in the company of professors from National University of Singapore, KTH, Sweden & University of Aberdeen.
11. Sep 2016: Keynote talk at Next Tech Lab, SRM University, India on ’GaN -a Wonder Device’ : Invited to be on the advisory board of NEXT TECH lab which is the first student run technical lab set up in India. 
12. Aug 2016: Invited Lecture for visiting Electrical Engineering undergraduates at Cambridge ’Can Gallium Nitride (GaN) usher in a second electronics revolution ?!’ 
13. July 2016: Soapbox Science Cambridge Talks by Selected Women Scientists ‘Electric Power Knows No Gender, Science No Gender’- PhD student from Engineering Dept to be selected for Soapbox Science Cambridge. 
14. June 2016: Selected Oral Presentation at EPSRC Power Conference, Nottingham, UK ’Gallium Nitride Technology, Design and Drive Considerations and Smart Power Module for Potential Applications’ (First prize for the talk)
15. April 2016: Selected Oral Presentation at IET-PEMD Conference, Glasgow, UK ’Design Considerations for 600 V GaN HEMT based Half Bridge Converter Systems for Utility Based Applications’ – Was among the 10 presentations selected out of 100+ submissions for oral presentation
16. April 2016: Selected Oral Presentation at Churchill College, Conference on Everything, ’Meeting Today’s Energy Demands: How Gallium Nitride Could Help Power the World’– Selected among the top 5 oral presentations. 
17. Jan 2016: Invited talk at GaN Power Workshop, Engineering dept, University of Cambridge- ’Perspective on GaN Power Electronics’
18. Sept 2015: Centre for Power Electronics Post Graduate Summer School, Newcastle ‘Engage, Educate and Innovate – Powering Your Future, Powering the World!’ – Addressing the EPSRC UK power electronics summer forum as its founding Chairperson and convener of its first summer school. 
19. May 2015: PhD research talk at Churchill College, MCR seminar series: ’Revolutionizing Electricity: How Gallium Nitride could help power the world!’ Invited to present at the Churchill College Monthly seminar for postgrads. 
20. Oct 2014: Invited Speaker at GSA Girl Power Summit: Women in Engineering Conference, St. Mary’s School, UK ’GaN Power – Research, Engineering and Innovation.’ Only PhD student invited to speak at the Summit amongst five other women academics, post-doctoral fellows and scientists. Nominated by CamAwise (Cambridge Association of Women in Science and Engineering) 

For booking talks, get in touch – nikita.hari@eng.ox.ac.uk / drnikitahari@gmail.com