Melbourne, Australia: As India accelerates its artificial intelligence agenda with a sharp focus on employment and productivity under the leadership of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Professor Theo Farrell, Vice-Chancellor of Australia’s La Trobe University, will speak at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, addressing how education and skills systems must adapt as AI reshapes jobs across the economy.
Professor Theo Farrell said India’s advantage would lie in how fast education and skills could be redesigned to match the speed of AI.
“Artificial intelligence will not replace India’s workforce, unprepared systems will. Education must move as fast as technology if growth is to translate into jobs.”
Professor Theo Farrell will speak on the Summit’s ‘AI First Education’ panel on February 20th in New Delhi, focusing on how universities and institutions must evolve as artificial intelligence compresses skill lifecycles and transforms workforce demand.
Professor Theo Farrell’s address comes as La Trobe University drives its AI-first strategy, a bold ambition to transform research, education, student support and business operations through an AI-first approach. The University is embedding AI across teaching, research, and operations to equip students for the workforce of tomorrow. From deployment of an NVIDIA H200 supercomputer to transform AI-driven medical and biotech research – the first to be commissioned by an Australian university – to a major collaboration with OpenAI that will see ChatGPT Edu rolled out to all staff and students, La Trobe is redefining how universities harness AI.
The La Trobe Vice-Chancellor’s address comes during his second visit to India in less than two weeks, after fruitful engagements at QS India Summit ’26 and PIE Live, reinforcing India’s role as a strategic partner in La Trobe University’s work across artificial intelligence, skills development and research collaboration.
Professor Farrell is accompanied by Daswin De Silva, Professor of AI and Analytics at La Trobe University, an expert in AI systems, applications and ethics who works closely with industry and policymakers on workforce transformation.
As India moves from AI ambition to implementation, the Summit is expected to shape how education, skills and employment policy are aligned to support growth, competitiveness and social mobility in the AI era.