Speakers announced for Asian Business Chamber’s upcoming Diwali celebrations

The Asian Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) has announced diverse panel of speakers for this year’s Diwali celebrations, which focuses on the theme of Light, Ignite and Innovation.

It will take place on 12 November at Birmingham City Football Club, bringing together business leaders, entrepreneurs, community leaders and professionals for an evening of celebration and networking.

Diwali, also known as the festival of light, celebrates the victory of good over evil and light over darkness and is a time of year when families, friends and communities come together in a spirit of celebration and joy. It is an important celebration among Hindus, Sikhs and Jains.

The headline sponsors of the event are Barclays Bank and Birmingham Airport.

The speakers are Sunny Vara, Dr Abhiske Gupta, Dr Anitha Chinnaswamy, and Dan Rodrigues.

Sunny Vara is the Founder and CEO of Cybercy Group, an international cyber security, data protection and AI enablement consultancy with offices in the UK, UAE and India.

Sunny's journey into cyber security began after becoming the victim of a serious fraudulent cyber attack. Determined to understand how it happened and prevent others from experiencing the same, he built Cybercy into a trusted consultancy that supports organisations with practical, jargon-free advice and real improvements to their security posture.

Dr Abhishek Gupta is a scientist, academic, entrepreneur and innovator whose career spans pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical research, forensic science and technology-driven healthcare.

He has been associated with the University of Wolverhampton since 2008, progressing through teaching, research, business development and academic leadership roles.

He is currently Deputy Head of the School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, where he combines academic leadership with research, enterprise development, industry collaboration and student mentorship.

Alongside his academic role, Dr Gupta is director and chief scientific officer of iNatural Ltd, a UK biotechnology company focused on developing and translating innovative biomedical solutions.

Dr Anitha Chinnaswamy is a cyber security research leader shaping UK and European agendas in cyber governance, organisational resilience, and technology-facilitated harms, with a focus on the impact of AI on digital security and trust.

She is vice president of ISACA Central UK and director of the GRIIT Network, leading a multi-million-pound portfolio spanning research, policy, and innovation.

Anitha has led major UK and EU-funded programmes, including the €1.34m InnovaCyBridge consortium and initiatives addressing cyber violence and digital abuse. 

Dan Rodrigues is a community ambassador for Birmingham City Football Club, passionate about using the power of football to bring people together, strengthen community connections, and create opportunities across Birmingham.

His role focuses on engaging with South Asian communities, supporters, grassroots clubs, and local organisations to make football more inclusive, accessible, and representative of the diverse communities that make the city special.

The event is free to attend for ABCC members.

Speaking about the event, ABCC manager Katrina Raipuri said: “Diwali is a wonderful opportunity to bring our business community together to celebrate the values of light, hope and new beginnings, while looking ahead to the ideas and innovations shaping our future.

“This year’s theme, Light, Ignite and Innovation, reflects the importance of embracing new thinking, sharing knowledge and creating opportunities for collaboration.

“Our speakers bring expertise from a range of fields, from cyber security and artificial intelligence to healthcare, research and community engagement, offering a diverse range of perspectives on how innovation can make a meaningful difference to businesses and society.

“We look forward to welcoming our members for an evening of celebration, inspiration and networking as we mark this special occasion together.”

ABCC president Monica Ghai said: “Diwali is a time to celebrate the strength of our communities, the power of new ideas and the opportunities that come when people come together.

“This year’s theme reflects the ABCC’s commitment to championing innovation, celebrating diverse perspectives and building connections that help businesses and our wider community thrive.”

Tickets for Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce members are priced at £30 plus VAT while tickets for non members are priced at £40 plus VAT. Future Faces Chamber of Commerce members can attend the event for £15 plus VAT.