“Curiosity becomes Scholarship. Voices become Impact”
October 3 & 4, 2026
Guru Nanak Institute (GNI) will host its fifth annual International Sikh Research Summit on October 3 & 4, this year at Surrey City Hall!
This two-day research summit will bring together scholars, researchers, community leaders, and students to engage in meaningful academic dialogue and present innovative research in the fields of Sikh studies, culture, history, education, business, and related interdisciplinary areas.
When: October 3 & 4, 2026
Location: Surrey City Hall – 13450 104 Ave, Surrey, BC V3T 1V8
Keynote Speakers:
Dr. Manmohan Singh Kumar
Dr. Manmohan Singh Kumar is a renowned economist with a career spanning over four decades bridging global economic policy, institutional investment, research and academia. He has held senior leadership positions at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a major global institutional investment company (CDPQ), a large investment bank, and taught at some of the world’s top universities, including Cambridge, Georgetown and Harvard.
At the IMF, Dr. Kumar headed the Fiscal Division for nearly a decade, providing policy advice to many of the 190 member countries of the IMF, and later headed the Financing Division which plays a key role in IMF’s Finances. He was also responsible for research work for G7 and G20 meetings, and led several policy missions to major developing and industrial countries. At CDPQ he was a senior Vice President for nearly a decade, Managing Director of its Washington D.C. office, member of its US Board and Chief Economist. He has been a consultant to the World Bank, United Nations, NERA and other private sector companies, and advised US and UK Treasury. He has published over 100 papers and 10 books and monographs.
Beyond his professional work, he serves (since 2020) as Chairman of the Board of Sikh Human Development Foundation (SHDF), which provides college scholarships to bright but financially constrained students in Punjab and neighboring areas, and has given over 15,000 scholarships. He has been a member of the Board of the Guru Nanak Foundation of America, is a founder of Sikh Society Cambridge and is an author of many articles on various aspects of Sikh philosophy and history. He is also a frequent speaker at Sikh Institutions and Gurudwaras.
He holds a Ph.D. from Cambridge University, and M.Sc. and B.Sc. from London University. He has received several prizes and honors from London and Cambridge Universities, from IMF, and is a recipient of several other awards from public and private sector institutions.