IT industry leader Chiranjibi Adhikari steps in as CAN Federation acting president

KATHMANDU: Federation of Computer Association Nepal (CAN Federation) has announced a change of leadership after its president, Sunaina Ghimire Pandey, resigned for personal reasons.

Following her resignation, senior vice president Chiranjibi Adhikari, a veteran of Nepal’s information technology sector and a noted cybersecurity expert, has assumed the role of acting president and will serve the remainder of the executive term. Adhikari was unanimously elected senior vice‑president during the federation’s 15th Executive Committee elections.

Adhikari, from Bharatpur Metropolitan City in Chitwan, brings more than two decades of experience in digital security, corporate leadership, policy advocacy and public education. He is the founder president of npCert (Information Security Response Team Nepal) and the Centre for Cybersecurity Research and Innovation (CSRI), and serves as chief executive officer of One Cover.

In 2024 Adhikari received the ICT Excellence Award from the Chandralok Foundation, presented by Khil Raj Regmi, former chairman of the Council of Ministers, in recognition of his contributions to building a more inclusive and secure digital environment in Nepal. He has led extensive public outreach on cybersecurity, conducting more than 500 awareness programmes for schools, rural government agencies and businesses.

He also teaches specialised courses at institutions including Softwarica College of IT & E‑Commerce and Texas College of Management & IT, and advises industry bodies such as the Nepal Chamber of Commerce IT Committee.

Assuming the acting presidency at a time when Nepal’s digital policy landscape is under scrutiny, Adhikari is expected to press for updates to legacy laws and practical measures to support the national technology sector. His stated priorities include promoting locally developed software under a 'Nepal Made Software' campaign, strengthening support for start‑ups through tax incentives and dedicated premises in technology hubs, and revising procurement and financing guidelines for software products.

The CAN Federation said the leadership change comes as the organisation continues its advocacy for modernised technology policies and implementation plans that align national strategy with on‑the‑ground needs.