The Network of South Asian Professionals of Boston is proud to host the 17th Annual Conference to be held in Boston, MA from Friday August 29th through Sunday August 31st, 2008.  The conference is NetIP’s annual premier event and draws people from all over North America.  The conference theme - “Explore. Dream. Discover.” will offer a unique experience for the South Asian professional community and inspire people to try something out of the ordinary.
 
This year, NetSAP Boston which is a two time winner of the best large chapter award and has a strong reputation and credibility in executing high-caliber quality events will partner with NetIP North America to execute this conference.  The upscale conference will take place at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel off the Boston Harbor in the Seaport District.

Over 55 top-notch speakers from diverse backgrounds in Technology to Politics to the Arts will help drive the sessions at the conference.  Some notable speakers include Desh Deshpande, Chairman of Sycamore Networks, Tarun Khanna, Jorge Paulo Lemann Professor from Harvard Business School, Vikram Akula, CEO and founder of SKS Microfinance, and Tim Murray, Lieutenant Governor of Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In addition to engaging the audience with their insights and experiences, these distinguished speakers will serve to inspire the professionals to go beyond perceived boundaries and reach new heights.

The keynotes at the conference will be interspersed with over 12 different breakout sessions and other entertainment segments.  The breakout sessions are ideal in that they provide ample options for attendees to choose from whether they seek to grow professionally or entertain a field or sector they are interested in pursuing or are passionate about.  Moreover, the conference has clearly incorporated the Explore, Dream, Discover themes in its programming by incorporating various hands-on workshops, a mini- film festival and numerous creative networking opportunities. These sessions at the conference include Art exhibitions, Documentary screenings, and panels on Finance, Healthcare, Social Entrepreneurship, Socio-Cultural issues and Global opportunities.

Apart from the intellectually stimulating sessions, the conference also boasts of the best entertainment options including a Dinner Cruise on the Odyssey on Saturday and a Red Carpet themed gala on Sunday which will have entertainers like Rajiv Satyal and Rasika Mathur doing Stand-up comedy, Boston Bhangra, and other renowned groups. Optional events such as Wine n Greet, Duck Tour and the exclusive tour of Institute of Contemporary Arts will provide more options to attendees.

The conference has already created lot of excitement in the community and registrations have been selling out quickly. Kishore Mosaliganti, an attendee who registered early for the conference says, "The distinguished speakers are the most exciting thing for me. I am interested in knowing what their ideas are and what they are upto. The conference is also a melting pot where you can meet people from different walks of life.”
 
“I am excited about the conference and would definitely recommend it to others! I attended the NetIP Conference in Boston in 2002 and found it to be a wonderful experience. I think the unique combination of Boston's great cultural and social opportunities combined with NetSAP Boston's strengths as a chapter will make this a great conference!” commented Prema Srinivasan, another attendee who registered for the conference.

Desh Deshpande, Chairman of Sycamore Networks and a philanthropist, who is a keynote speaker at the conference, commended NetSAP Boston on its effort – “NetIP and NetSAP have fostered lasting friendships among its members. This friendship has formed a strong foundation for building a national network to support each other professionally and socially. NetSAP members have demonstrated the spirit of giving back to the communities in which they live and work. I wish them success in their endeavors to establish a legacy for present and future generations of young South Asians.”

The 17th Annual NetIP Conference would not be possible with the support of the many volunteers and partner organizations who are dedicated to making a difference in their community.  The conference team is led by Tushneem Dharmagadda who is the Conference Co-Chair and President of NetSAP Boston, and Sundip Arora who is the Conference Co-Chair and VP Events for NetIP North America. The core team that includes Shobhit Chugh for Content, Swarupa Purandare for Sponsorship, Pallavi Chhabra for Logistics and Aruna Paramasivam for Marketing are supported by over 45 volunteers in their efforts. Conference partners include Indian Medical Association of New England (IMANE), South Asian Bar Association of Greater Boston (SABA), US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) and Boston Bhangra.

The conference promises to bring many South Asians together and focus on key relevant issues that we face today – something that everyone from the community should be looking forward to participate in. More information about the conference can be found at www.netipconference.org and the deadline to register is 15th August, 2008.

Panel discussions will include:

The effect of '9/11' on the South Asian Diaspora as seen through Artistic Media
South Asians in the Media & Entertainment
Creating Social Impact through Entrepreneurship
Dream: A South Asian President?
Blending our Identities
HealthCare Opportunities - 14 MM Jobs and Growing
South Asian Lawyers In The Public Eye
Emergence of Indian Sounds in World Music
Indian Economy in 2020 - Moving Ahead
Chai Chat - American Born Confused Dating
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Networking... But No One Ever Told You Acting Workshop - Become the next superstar

About the Network of South Asian Professionals of Boston
The Network of South Asian professionals of Boston (NetSAP Boston),which is the leading chapter of NetIP, includes professionals from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other regions of South Asia. NetSAP is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving the professional, political, cultural and civic needs of the South Asian community in the Greater Boston and New England area. NetSAP Boston promotes diversity that is unrivaled by most organizations. For two consecutive years, NetSAP Boston has been awarded the "Best Large Chapter Award" by NetIP North America in recognition for its outstanding initiatives.

About the Network of Indian Professionals of North America
The Network of Indian Professionals of North America (NetIP) is a professional, not-for-profit organization with 23 chapters in major metropolitan areas across the United States and Canada, dedicated to the overall achievement and advancement of South Asian American professionals in the communities in which they live and work through professional development, political participation, cultural enrichment, community service, and social interaction.

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