Networking & Learning Session
Nepal’s workforce in the IT and tech sectors holds significant potential for driving national development and fostering global engagement. However, one of the critical gaps in realizing this potential is the lack of platforms that facilitate interaction, knowledge exchange, and collaboration between emerging professionals and seasoned experts.
Rajan Bajracharya
Founder and MD of GeoKrishi
Rajan Bajracharya
Founder and MD of GeoKrishi
Rajan Bajracharya is a visionary leader in digital agriculture and climate-resilient technologies, with over two decades of experience designing and deploying innovative digital systems for sustainable development. He is the Founder and Managing Director of GeoKrishi, a pioneering platform focused on transforming agriculture in Nepal through data-driven solutions that empower farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, and policymakers.
Rajan also leads Pathway Technologies, where he serves as Managing Director and System Architect, driving technological innovation to support agriculture, climate action, and community development. He is the Founder of DDS4Dev (Digital Data System for Development), further advancing his mission to harness digital tools for inclusive and sustainable progress.
Prior to his entrepreneurial journey, Rajan served for over 15 years as a System Specialist at ICIMOD, where he contributed to regional initiatives on environment, climate change, and sustainable mountain development.
He holds an engineering degree from SDM College of Engineering & Technology, Dharwad, and continues to be a key voice in Nepal’s growing digital transformation in agriculture and environmental sustainability.
Giwan Katwal, PhD
Semiconductor Product Integration Engineer
Giwan Katwal, PhD
Semiconductor Product Integration Engineer
Giwan Katwal, Ph.D., is a highly experienced product development and process integration engineer with a strong background in condensed matter physics and materials science. With over a decade of combined research and industry experience, he specializes in semiconductor product lifecycle management, process optimization, and supply chain R&D.
Currently serving as a Product Integration Engineer at Samsung Austin Semiconductor, Giwan Katwal, Ph.D., leads the development of microprocessor products from new product introduction (NPI) to high-volume manufacturing (HVM). He applies data analysis, design of experiments, and cross-functional collaboration to enhance product performance, yield, and reliability.
Previously at Intel Corporation, Giwan Katwal, Ph.D., contributed to the development of probing technologies, supplier integration, and cost-optimized component sourcing for AI, data center, and supercomputing products. His work strengthened supplier quality and supported seamless integration of advanced solutions into Intel’s production ecosystem.
His early career includes a role as Senior Process Development Engineer, where Giwan Katwal, Ph.D., implemented Lean Six Sigma strategies, drove system automation, and led the qualification of multimillion-dollar process tools to boost manufacturing efficiency.
Giwan Katwal, Ph.D., earned his Ph.D. in Condensed Matter and Material Physics and a Master’s in Physics from the University of Houston, where he also worked as a graduate research and teaching assistant. His research focused on nanomaterials for energy conversion, gas sensing, and early cancer detection, culminating in multiple high-impact publications and conference presentations.
Combining scientific depth with industrial agility, Giwan Katwal, Ph.D., continues to innovate at the intersection of advanced materials, semiconductor technology, and scalable manufacturing.
Pragyan Raj Acharya
VP Solutions Engineering at ReOrbit
Pragyan Raj Acharya
VP Solutions Engineering at ReOrbit
Pragyan Acharya is a seasoned satellite communications and solutions engineering expert with over 18 years of global experience in network design, space technology integration, and strategic technical leadership across the aerospace and telecommunications industries.
Currently serving as Vice President of Solutions Engineering at ReOrbit, Pragyan Acharya leads the development of innovative space infrastructure solutions, enabling next-generation satellite networks and mission planning systems. Prior to this, he managed solutions engineering at ReOrbit and played a pivotal role in scaling customer-focused, mission-ready technologies in the space sector.
Previously at Astranis Space Technologies, he was instrumental in the network design and planning of the company’s first MicroGEO satellite. His contributions included payload optimization for South American markets, RF interference analysis, spectrum planning, and the development of internal tools for digital payload route configuration.
During his 12-year tenure at SES Satellites, Pragyan Acharya held progressive roles from Senior Segment Sales Engineer to Senior Manager of Aero Solutions Engineering. He led the global in-flight connectivity (IFC) solutions team, helped design SES’s global IFC network for commercial and business aviation, and managed satellite transition operations. His leadership helped establish Aero as SES’s fastest-growing segment.
Pragyan Acharya began his career in Nepal with STM Group, Inc., where he gained hands-on field and network operations experience in satellite and telecom equipment deployment across challenging environments.
He holds a Master’s degree in Telecommunications from George Mason University, a Bachelor’s in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Kathmandu University, and recently completed the “New Space Economy” program at MIT Professional Education, focusing on emerging technologies and business models in the commercial space sector.
With deep technical expertise, global industry experience, and a passion for space innovation, Pragyan Acharya continues to play a key role in shaping the future of satellite communications and new space technologies.
James Bikram Dhoj Joshi, PhD
Professor at University of Pittsburgh
James Bikram Dhoj Joshi, PhD
Professor at University of Pittsburgh
Dr. James Joshi is a professor of the School of Computing and Information at the University of Pittsburgh, and the director/co-founder of the Laboratory of Education and Research on Security-Assured Information Systems (LERSAIS). From Sept 2019 to Aug 31, 2023, he served as a Program Director in the Computer and Network System (CNS) division and its Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) program at the U.S. National Science Foundation. He also served as the Co-Chair of the Privacy Interagency Working Group of the Networking and Information Technology R&D (NITRD), as well as the NITRD Fast Track Action Committees for (1) Advancing Privacy-Preserving Data Sharing and Analytics (PPDSA) that produced the National Strategy to Advance PPDSA in 2023; and (2) Digital Assets R&D Agenda (till Aug 2023). He also served in the NITRD CSIA Cybersecurity R&D National Strategy Task Force. He received his MS in CS and Ph.D. in ECE degrees from Purdue University in 1998 and 2003, respectively
He is an IEEE Fellow, an ACM Distinguished Member, a Fellow of the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association, and an IEEE CS Golden Core member. His research is focused broadly on cybersecurity and privacy areas including advanced access control models, security and privacy of distributed systems and AI/ML, and trust management. He is a recipient of the NSF CAREER award in 2006. He had earlier established and managed the NSF CyberCorp Scholarship for Service program at Pitt. He had established LERSAIS/Pitt as an NSA-designated Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (both CAE Education and CAE Research). He has served as a program co-chair and/or general co-chair of several international conferences/workshops. At Pitt, he had earlier served as the Chair of the School of Information Science (SIS) Council, the main governing body of the school.
He currently serves as the founding Steering Committee chair of the following co-located International IEEE conferences: Collaboration and Internet Computing (CIC); Trust, Privacy and Security of Intelligent Systems, and Applications (TPS); and Cognitive Machine Intelligence (CogMI). He served as the Editor-In-Chief of IEEE Transactions on Services Computing from 2017-2021. He has published over 150 articles as book chapters and papers in journals, conferences, and workshops, and has served as a special issue editor of several journals including IEEE TSC, Elsevier Computer & Security, ACM TOPS, Springer MONET, IJCIS, and Information Systems Frontiers. His research has been supported by NSF, NSA/DoD, and Cisco. He established the first undergraduate degree program in Computer science and Engineering in Nepal while he was at Kathmandu University.
Topraj Gurung, PhD
Founder of Blaze Labs
Topraj Gurung, PhD
Founder of Blaze Labs
Topraj Gurung is a seasoned computer scientist and social impact leader with over two decades of experience in technology, education, and innovation across the United States and Nepal. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he also completed his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees.
Topraj has held key technical and leadership roles at global tech giants including Google and Facebook, where he contributed to groundbreaking projects in AI, 3D mesh processing, internet accessibility, privacy tools, and real-time data collaboration. His career also includes founding roles at early-stage startups and impactful research internships at institutions such as Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Medicsight UK.
Currently, he leads Blaze Labs, a nonprofit based in Kathmandu dedicated to harnessing technology for social good, with a focus on building transformative solutions in education for Nepal.
A lifelong educator and mentor, Topraj has taught and coached at Georgia Tech, where he inspired students through algorithmic problem solving and led competitive programming teams to international acclaim. He has served as a judge, problem setter, and coach for global programming competitions including the ACM ICPC and Google Code Jam.
In addition to his technical contributions, Topraj plays an active role in youth empowerment through advisory and leadership roles at organizations like the Nepal Youth Foundation, TEJ Center, and Product Vidhyala, helping develop the next generation of Nepali tech leaders.