“Honouring the Past & Empowering the Future”
September 20 & 21, 2025
Guru Nanak Institute (GNI) has hosted its fourth annual International Sikh Research Summit on September 20 & 21, this year!
This two-day conference brought together scholars, researchers, community leaders, and students to engage in thought-provoking discussions and presented groundbreaking research on Sikh studies, culture, history, and more.
When: September 20 & 21, 2025
Location: Surrey City Hall – 13450 104 Ave, Surrey, BC V3T 1V8
Keynote Speakers:
Dr. Muninder Kaur Alhuwalia
Muninder Kaur Ahluwalia, PhD. is Professor and Chair of the Department of Counseling at Montclair State University. Dr. Ahluwalia received her PhD in Counseling Psychology from New York University. She is Fellow of both the Society of Counseling Psychology and the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race of the American Psychological Association (APA), a recipient of the O’hana Award from Counselors for Social Justice of the American Counseling Association, and is past chair of the Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs of the APA. Dr. Ahluwalia has served on the Editorial Boards for counseling and psychology journals. She is co-author of the books, Taking action: Creating social change through strength, solidarity, strategy and sustainability, and Workbook for Social Action for Counselors, Psychologists, and Helping Professionals. Dr. Ahluwalia engages in scholarship focusing on intersecting identities, anti-racism and social justice.
Dr. Harjinder Singh Sandhu
Dr. Sandhu is a globally recognized leader in healthcare AI and innovation. He most recently served as CTO of Health & Life Sciences Solutions and Platform at Microsoft, where he helped define the company’s global AI strategy for healthcare transformation. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Toronto and previously served as an Assistant Professor at York University, as well as a visiting scientist at IBM. Dr. Sandhu is also a successful serial entrepreneur, having founded or co-founded multiple companies at the intersection of artificial intelligence and medicine. His most recent venture, Saykara, developed a voice-powered AI medical scribe to reduce physician burnout and improve clinical workflows. The company was acquired by Nuance Communications in 2021, where he served as Vice President of Technology Strategy prior to its acquisition by Microsoft. Dr. Sandhu’s unique blend of academic expertise, entrepreneurial vision, and executive leadership makes him a sought after voice in global discussions on AI in healthcare.
YouTube Links:
Day 1 September 20, 2025: https://www.youtube.com/live/cMdUozp5q_g?feature=shared
Day 2 September 21, 2025: https://www.youtube.com/live/UpzVA9TvRUY?feature=shared