The Kerala Management Association (KMA) will mark 68 years of its engagement with Kerala's management community by hosting the 43rd KMA Annual Management Convention, ClaySys KMaC 2026, on January 15 and 16 at the Grand Hyatt Convention Centre in Kochi. The event comes at a time when companies and organisations are grappling with economic uncertainty, workforce stress and rapid structural change.
Over the past seven decades, KMA has played a central role in shaping Kerala’s management ecosystem by bringing together corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, academicians and young professionals. The upcoming convention seeks to build on that legacy by moving beyond discussion and focusing on practical, action-oriented outcomes.
With ClaySys Technologies as the title sponsor, the organisers aim to position KMaC 2026 as one of India’s most influential management conventions, with a strong emphasis on leadership relevance and real-world impact.
The theme for this year, “Transforming for impact: Integrating financial health, physical health and mental health to shape a sustainable future”, reflects a growing recognition that organisational performance and long-term growth depend on more than financial metrics alone. The sessions are designed to explore how economic resilience, employee well-being and mental health intersect, and how leaders can integrate these elements into strategy and governance.
The two-day convention will feature plenary sessions, keynote addresses, panel discussions, networking forums and curated exhibitions. National and international speakers will address sector-specific challenges, leadership transformation and emerging opportunities for Kerala’s economy.
The convention will be preceded by the Young Minds Summit on January 15, a half-day programme aimed at engaging young professionals and emerging leaders. The summit will be led by Tom Jose, former chief secretary of Kerala and chairman of KSE Limited, as chief guest, with Sarathbabu Elumalai, founder of FoodKing, as guest of honour. Discussions will focus on Kerala’s global relevance, talent development and innovation-led growth.
Day one of the main convention will focus on transformation at the organisational, sectoral and state levels. A plenary session examining KMA’s role in shaping Kerala’s management landscape will bring together past and present KMA leaders. Infrastructure-led change will be highlighted through a session on the transformation of Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), followed by a roundtable featuring prominent business leaders from Kerala.
The inaugural session will be attended by Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Jairam Gadkari as chief guest. Former UN deputy secretary-general Kumaresh C. Mishra will be the guest of honour, while the keynote address will be delivered by V Anantha Nageswaran, chief economic adviser to the Government of India.
Day two will focus on leadership, well-being and long-term sustainability. Sessions will cover geopolitics, technology-led change, youth leadership and cultural transformation. Dedicated discussions will address financial health, physical wellbeing and mental health, with participation from corporate leaders, medical professionals and behavioural experts.
The convention will conclude with a valedictory keynote on purpose-led leadership by Naresh Kumar Sethi, chairman of VST Industries and advisor to Bain & Company.
