Leadership & Advisors

Guiding Vision. Grounded Action. Trusted Impact.

At the Modern Digital Innovation Foundation, our leadership is a collective of visionaries, practitioners, educators, technologists, and policy experts — united by a single goal: to make technology accessible, secure, and sustainable for all.

We believe leadership is not about titles — it’s about responsibility, credibility, and community-first innovation.

Founder & CEO

Dr. Naveen Sharma

Founder & Visionary Leader

Building the Future of AI, Blockchain, Cybersecurity & Fintech | Technologist | Author | Investor

A serial entrepreneur, digital rights advocate, and global technologist, Dr. Naveen Sharma brings over 25 years of experience in technology, innovation, and societal transformation across Asia, Africa, South America, and the Middle East.

Key Highlights: 

  • Creator of "Proof of Intelligence" consensus — a novel, ethical alternative to traditional blockchain models
  • Author of 3 widely respected books on technology, law, and reform:
    • Blockchain: Opportunities Beyond Bitcoin – ISBN 978-93-6045-022-9
    • Signal Lost: The Telecom Dues Crisis – ISBN 978-93-343-1928-6
    • DPDPA for All: India's New Data Protection Era Made Simple – ISBN XXX
  • Doctorate in Cybersecurity with a special focus on digital sovereignty and trust frameworks
  • Law graduate with specialization in Cybercrime, Digital Compliance & Public Policy
  • Actively supports individuals pro bono in legal, cybercrime, and privacy issues since the early 2000s
  • Led and scaled multiple tech ventures internationally including in UAE, the US, and Latin America
  • Frequently invited speaker at global forums on AI, Web3, and digital policy
  • Advisor to startups, institutions, and civic bodies working on ethical tech and digital inclusion
Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer

Dr. Anil Khandelwal

Senior Advisor – Sustainability, Education & Outreach

Educator | Environmentalist | Entrepreneur

Dr. Anil Khandelwal brings a unique combination of deep academic grounding, entrepreneurial experience, and a lifelong commitment to sustainability and education.

Key Highlights:

  • Voluntarily retired as Professor of Chemistry after 35+ years of service in the field of education
  • Recognized for pioneering green chemistry curriculum and eco-conscious learning models
  • A strong advocate for technology-enabled sustainability and low-carbon digital transformation
  • Successfully built and exited a jewelry manufacturing and retail business, bringing real-world business insight into community innovation
  • Leads MDIF’s initiatives in green tech education, recycling of digital devices, and climate-aware coding
  • Regular mentor for student projects focused on the circular economy and sustainable living practices

Advisory

Sanjay Verma

Sanjay Verma

Strategic Advisor | Digital Governance & Public Sector Innovation | Emerging Technologies View More...

Advocate Bhuvnesh Vyas

Advocate Bhuvnesh Vyas

Legal Strategist | Cyber Law & Digital Governance | Civil & Criminal Law Support View More...

Meet Bisht

Meet Bisht

IoT & Embedded Systems Architect | Secure Device Ecosystems | AI at the Edge View More...

Dr. Honey Gocher

Dr. Honey Gocher

Cybersecurity Strategist | Cyber Intelligence & Threat Detection | Secure Software Engineering View More...

Dr. Vikas Kumar

Dr. Vikas Kumar

Cybersecurity Architect | AI-Driven Security Solutions | Network & Systems Protection View More...

Nishit Dayal

Nishit Dayal

Serial Entrepreneur & CEO | Turning innovative ideas into profitable realities View More...

Our Extended Advisory Network Includes:

  • Cyber law experts and digital rights advocates
  • Professors and researchers in AI, sociology, and digital governance
  • Grassroots leaders from education and community technology programs
  • Industry professionals contributing to our policy, compliance, and strategy work

Join Our Leadership Movement

We regularly onboard regional advisors, community champions, educators, and subject matter experts across India and abroad. If you share our values and vision — we welcome you.

Become a Regional Advisor
Partner as an Academic Mentor
Nominate a Tech Leader