4th Annual International Sikh Research Summit
“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
3rd Annual International Sikh Research Summit
“Global Impact and Contributions of Sikhs“
September 28 & 29, 2024
Congratulations on a successful summit!
We commend each one of you who participated, whether in person or virtually, in two intensive days of discussion and intellectual rigour. Your dedication reflects a commitment to advancing knowledge, the cornerstone of innovation. From tackling food insecurity and internationalizing education to advancing mental health awareness and political engagement, the presentations highlighted the power of research in driving real-world progress. The 2024 summit has laid the groundwork for transformative research that will shape GNI’s future as a distinctive academic institution. Thank you for your insight and commitment to our shared vision.
For those who missed it, you don’t even realize what you missed! Check out our summary report and video links below. Hopefully, you’ll remember to join us next year on September 20 & 21, 2025!
YouTube Links:
Day 1 September 28, 2024: https://youtube.com/live/umcta6_oOwA?feature=share
Day 2 September 29, 2024: https://youtube.com/live/tgXc7Np-Oms?feature=share
2nd Annual International Sikh Research Summit
“Sikhi in a Globalized World“
September 23 & 24, 2023
Guru Nanak Institute of Global Studies successfully hosted its 2nd International Sikh Research Summit (Sikhi in a Globalized World), uniting scholars and leaders for collaborative discussions and knowledge exchange. This summit served as a platform for fostering collaborative research, interdisciplinary discussions, and the exchange of innovative ideas. Participants engaged in enriching dialogue, contributing to the global landscape of knowledge and discovery. The event showcased the institute’s commitment to excellence in research and academic collaboration on an international scale.
Event Gallery
1st Annual International Sikh Research Summit
June 18, 2022
The Guru Nanak Institute of Global Studies successfully hosted its first International Sikh Research Summit on June 18, 2022. This five-hour online forum brought together a diverse group of participants, showcasing a balanced gender ratio (47% women, 53% men), global representation (40% Canada, 45% India, 8% USA, 6% Pakistan & 2% other), and varied age demographics (55% ages 20-39, 31% ages 40-59, 11% ages 60+, 2% under 19). There were also a number of research publications (8% ages 20+, 7% ages 6-19, 24% under 5).
Seeing the exciting, stimulating, inspiring, and thought-provoking content presented by world-class academics, researchers, scholars, authors, professionals, and educators who kept participants engaged for five hours was unbelievable! “It was meticulous planning by the GNI Team,” wrote Dr. Virk, a participant in the Summit.