Who Is Ankur Vora? Indian-Origin Man To Replace Bill Gates At AI Summit 2026

Last Updated:February 19, 2026, 11:57 IST

Ankur Vora will represent the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation at the India AI Impact Summit after Bill Gates withdrew from the keynote address.

Ankur Vora, President of the Africa and India offices of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is set to represent the organisation at the India AI Impact Summit on Thursday. The development came after Bill Gates withdrew from delivering the keynote address.

According to an official statement from the foundation, “After careful consideration, and to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit’s key priorities, Mr Gates will not be delivering his keynote address".

“The Gates Foundation remains fully committed to our work in India to advance our shared health and development goals", it added.

Gates had been listed among global tech leaders, policymakers, founders and innovators on the official website of the AI Impact Summit, which commenced in New Delhi on February 16.

The AI Summit — running until February 21 — reflects the nation’s ambition to shape an AI future that is inclusive, responsible, and impactful, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of sovereign AI.

WHO IS ANKUR VORA?

According to his LinkedIn profile, Ankur Vora grew up in India and received higher education in economics and engineering. He secured a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science and a Master of Science in Economics from the renowned Birla Institute of Technology and Science, (BITS), Pilani.

Vora went on to earn a PhD in Economics at the University of Chicago.

Between 1998 and 2003, he served as a lecturer in economics at the University of Chicago. During this time, Vora also worked at Goldman Sachs as an Associate in Fixed Income, Currencies, and Commodities (FICC) in 2001.

In 2003, he joined the Boston Consulting Group as a Principal. Later in 2009, he switched to the development sector as Director of Programmes at The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation in London.

Vora took over as Deputy Director, Strategy at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2013. In 2015, he was appointed as Director, Strategy, Innovation & Impact, leading strategy, measurement and evaluation, and special initiatives.

In 2020, Vora was named Chief Strategy Officer, advising the Chair and CEO on priorities, resource allocation and long-term planning.

Now based in Washington, Vora became President of the foundation’s Africa and India Offices in January, 2026.

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