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Hari Menon
President, Global Growth & Opportunity
Gates Foundation
Hari Menon leads the foundation's Global Growth & Opportunity Division, which includes the Agricultural Development, Digital Public Infrastructure, Global Education, Inclusive Financial Systems, Nutrition, and Water, Sanitation & Hygiene programs. Previously, Hari led the foundation's India office, overseeing work across South and Southeast Asia in family health, nutrition, sanitation, digital financial inclusion, agriculture, and women's economic empowerment. His earlier roles at the foundation spanned public health — particularly maternal and child health and HIV prevention — and policy, advocacy, and communications.
Hari has been at the foundation since 2004, with a stint from 2011 to 2013 as a strategic adviser to philanthropist Rohini Nilekani. Earlier in his career, he worked in consumer goods and information technology at companies including Colgate Palmolive and Infosys Technologies. He holds a graduate degree in business management from XLRI – Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur, and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi.
Speaking at SFF 2026
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11:45am–12:20pmWed 18 NovFestival StageHall 1, Singapore EXPOPremium
Talent Rewiring
Building the Capacity to Thrive: Can Digital Infrastructure Create the Next Generation of Inclusive Economies?
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Ari SarkerChairman of the BoardAirtel Mobile Commerce N.V.
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H.E. Innocent B. MuhiziRepublic of Rwanda to SingaporeHigh Commissioner
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Hon. Nitish MishraMinister for Information Technology (IT)Government of Bihar
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Tan Bin RuPresident, Enterprise DigitalST Engineering
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Hari MenonPresident, Global Growth & OpportunityGates Foundation
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Pat PatelChief Executive Officer, USA, LATAM, Middle East & Africa; Co-CEO, GFTN ConnectionsGlobal Finance & Technology Network (GFTN)Moderator
About this session
Digital infrastructure can lower barriers to financial services, markets and public support, but access alone does not guarantee participation or prosperity. The harder task is building the skills, institutions, trust and locally relevant services that let people and businesses turn connectivity into opportunity. Digital infrastructure must also be trusted, secure, resilient and designed around real-world needs. Drawing on experience across policy, development and fintech, this session examines what helps digital systems reach underserved communities, support livelihoods and strengthen local economies, and where infrastructure-led strategies fall short. Attendees will leave with a clearer view of the capabilities required to turn digital infrastructure into trusted ecosystems for genuinely inclusive growth and resilience.
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