Judges
Announcing the list of judges for Hindustan Times - Brightest Young Climate Leaders 2010
- Rahul Bose - Celebrity/Actor and Activist
- Bahar Dutt - Environment Editor CNN IBN
- Saurabh Kumar - Secretary, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power
- Shailaja Chandra - Ex Chief Secretary Delhi, IAS
- John Elkington - Founder SustainAbility and Volans
- Gaurav Gupta - Director Green Livelihood Centre, Co-Founder Climate Project India
- Pranav Nahar - MD, Evolution Markets - leading carbon and energy commodity firm
- Sudanshu Sinha - Regional Head Climate Security project - British Council
- G.S.Gujral - Regional Head Science and Environment, British Council
- Ishani Chattopadhyay - Founder Arctic Holdings and Organizer of the event
Rahul Bose started his acting career early, when
as a boy of six he played the lead in his school play, 'Tom, the Piper's Son'.
Ever since then his love for theatre has only grown with a prolific body of work on
the Bombay stage culminating in his last performance at the Leicester Haymarket
in England where he played the lead in Tim Murari's 'The Square Circle'. His film
career took off with the unprecedented success of his first film, 'English, August',
today a cultish favourite amongst cinephiles. Acclaim followed for his work in
movies like 'Split Wide Open' (Best Actor, Singapore Film Festival, 2000), Mr. And
Mrs. Iyer, and 'Jhankaar Beats' - all international award-winning films. Although
'Thakshak' and 'Chameli' may be considered to be more mainstream, his image as
India's premier actor of the alternative cinema finds concurrence across the world.
'Time' magazine called him 'the superstar of Indian art house cinema' while 'Maxim'
(Italy), 'the Sean Penn of Oriental cinema'.
In 2006 he played the lead in Aparna Sen's '15 Park' Avenue' which was awarded the National Award for Best English Film. His best work in 2007 was in Buddhadev Dasgupta's 'Kaalpurush', which won the National Award for Best Film and was also in the Master's Section of the Toronto International Film Festival and Berlin Film Festival that year. Rahul then rode the wave of the unprecedented success of his next release, 'Pyaar ke Side Effects' which ran to packed houses across the country. It is his first solo-hero hit in the mainstream genre. Not surprisingly he is being touted as that rare commodity - an actor who straddles the worlds of arthouse and commercial cinema with èlan. In recognition of this, two retrospectives of his body of work have been held - the first in Geneva in 2004, and the second at the Masala! Mehndi! Masti! Festival in Toronto in July 2007.
2008 was a banner year for Rahul with his first Hollywood film, 'Before the Rains' releasing to excellent reviews worldwide and a heartening response at the box office in the U.S., the U.K. and Canada. Rahul's work was singled out for praise by the most respected international critics (see below). Back home, four of Rahul's films released last year - 'Shaurya', 'Tahaan', 'Maan Gaye Mughal Azam' and 'Dil Kabaddi' . While he was nominated for Best Actor at a couple of awards functions for 'Shaurya', 'Dil Kabaddi' has seen him receive some fine reviews from the Indian critics. He is currently shooting 'Fired', a psychological-horror thriller in London. His films in post-production or releasing shortly include, 'The Whisperers', 'Ghost Ghost Na Raha', 'Zara Jee Ke Dekho' and Aparna Sen's 'The Japanese Wife' (which he believes is his best work yet).
As is widely known now, Rahul's social concerns occupy an equally important space in his consciousness. 2007 was a seminal year in his efforts at public service and philanthropy when he started his own non-profit organization, The Foundation, an NGO dedicated to the removal of discrimination from all walks of life. The first of The Foundation's initiatives is well under way, where six children, four girls and two boys, have been selected out of 36 islands and 88 schools in the Andaman & Nicobar islands, to receive a scholarship that will see all their expenses paid for their education from grade 6 to grade 12 in Rishi Valley school, outside Bangalore. The children complete two years this term. For details on this and other initiatives please visit www.thefoundation.in .
Recognising that climate change is going to be the single most influential factor in the world, both economically and socio-culturally, Rahul is, as usual, ahead of the curve in India in strenuously urging the country to 'go green'. To this end he has strategically chosen two completely different initiatives, with the same end goals but differing methodologies. As an Oxfam Global Ambassador, Rahul launched their India initiative on climate change in March 2009. This initiative will focus on government policy at the highest level along with advocacy of the same at international bodies, e.g. the United Nations. The second, more grassroots initiative is with Planet Alert, a multi-pronged campaign including, 'Green Runs' across the country, college interactions, mass media campaigns and a video blog as well as a written blog that Rahul personally crafts every week on www.planetalert.bigadda.com
An acclaimed speaker Rahul continues to deliver talks across the world. His motivational speeches on leadership, life choices, personal success and public commitment have been shared with employees of notable corporates like Hewlitt-Packard, WNS-GS, The Taj Group of Hotels and HSBC Bank to name a few. 2008 saw Rahul's international profile as a social activist really gain recognition w hen he was one of twelve international thinkers, politicians, economists and social activists to inaugrate the 'In My Name' initiative against global poverty. Rahul unveiled this initiative along with the Secretary General of the U.N., Ban-Ki-Moon, Queen Rania of Jordan, Mary Robinson, ex-Prime Ministewr of Ireland, Bono of U2, amongst others. He was one of only five of the delegation invited to address the world press. In the same month he delivered four keynote speeches in New York, Washington, Los Angeles and Houston at fundraisers for the world's largest NGO working in the field of primary education, Pratham. He has presented a paper on 'Gender Discrimination in India' at the World Youth Summit held in Bangkok in 2004. Speaking at schools and colleges is something Rahul never misses an opportunity to do. He has spoken at Oxford University, Cornell University, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Leeds Metropolitan University, IIT, Bombay, St. Xavier's College and the Manipal institute of Technology. He has also held acting workshops in practically every well-recognised school in the country.
Rahul continues to write prolifically on issue ranging from gender equality to the future of Indian cinema. His articles may be found on www.intentblog.com a lifelong resident of Bombay, Rahul currently divides his time between Los Angeles, London and Bombay.
In 2006 he played the lead in Aparna Sen's '15 Park' Avenue' which was awarded the National Award for Best English Film. His best work in 2007 was in Buddhadev Dasgupta's 'Kaalpurush', which won the National Award for Best Film and was also in the Master's Section of the Toronto International Film Festival and Berlin Film Festival that year. Rahul then rode the wave of the unprecedented success of his next release, 'Pyaar ke Side Effects' which ran to packed houses across the country. It is his first solo-hero hit in the mainstream genre. Not surprisingly he is being touted as that rare commodity - an actor who straddles the worlds of arthouse and commercial cinema with èlan. In recognition of this, two retrospectives of his body of work have been held - the first in Geneva in 2004, and the second at the Masala! Mehndi! Masti! Festival in Toronto in July 2007.
2008 was a banner year for Rahul with his first Hollywood film, 'Before the Rains' releasing to excellent reviews worldwide and a heartening response at the box office in the U.S., the U.K. and Canada. Rahul's work was singled out for praise by the most respected international critics (see below). Back home, four of Rahul's films released last year - 'Shaurya', 'Tahaan', 'Maan Gaye Mughal Azam' and 'Dil Kabaddi' . While he was nominated for Best Actor at a couple of awards functions for 'Shaurya', 'Dil Kabaddi' has seen him receive some fine reviews from the Indian critics. He is currently shooting 'Fired', a psychological-horror thriller in London. His films in post-production or releasing shortly include, 'The Whisperers', 'Ghost Ghost Na Raha', 'Zara Jee Ke Dekho' and Aparna Sen's 'The Japanese Wife' (which he believes is his best work yet).
As is widely known now, Rahul's social concerns occupy an equally important space in his consciousness. 2007 was a seminal year in his efforts at public service and philanthropy when he started his own non-profit organization, The Foundation, an NGO dedicated to the removal of discrimination from all walks of life. The first of The Foundation's initiatives is well under way, where six children, four girls and two boys, have been selected out of 36 islands and 88 schools in the Andaman & Nicobar islands, to receive a scholarship that will see all their expenses paid for their education from grade 6 to grade 12 in Rishi Valley school, outside Bangalore. The children complete two years this term. For details on this and other initiatives please visit www.thefoundation.in .
Recognising that climate change is going to be the single most influential factor in the world, both economically and socio-culturally, Rahul is, as usual, ahead of the curve in India in strenuously urging the country to 'go green'. To this end he has strategically chosen two completely different initiatives, with the same end goals but differing methodologies. As an Oxfam Global Ambassador, Rahul launched their India initiative on climate change in March 2009. This initiative will focus on government policy at the highest level along with advocacy of the same at international bodies, e.g. the United Nations. The second, more grassroots initiative is with Planet Alert, a multi-pronged campaign including, 'Green Runs' across the country, college interactions, mass media campaigns and a video blog as well as a written blog that Rahul personally crafts every week on www.planetalert.bigadda.com
An acclaimed speaker Rahul continues to deliver talks across the world. His motivational speeches on leadership, life choices, personal success and public commitment have been shared with employees of notable corporates like Hewlitt-Packard, WNS-GS, The Taj Group of Hotels and HSBC Bank to name a few. 2008 saw Rahul's international profile as a social activist really gain recognition w hen he was one of twelve international thinkers, politicians, economists and social activists to inaugrate the 'In My Name' initiative against global poverty. Rahul unveiled this initiative along with the Secretary General of the U.N., Ban-Ki-Moon, Queen Rania of Jordan, Mary Robinson, ex-Prime Ministewr of Ireland, Bono of U2, amongst others. He was one of only five of the delegation invited to address the world press. In the same month he delivered four keynote speeches in New York, Washington, Los Angeles and Houston at fundraisers for the world's largest NGO working in the field of primary education, Pratham. He has presented a paper on 'Gender Discrimination in India' at the World Youth Summit held in Bangkok in 2004. Speaking at schools and colleges is something Rahul never misses an opportunity to do. He has spoken at Oxford University, Cornell University, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Leeds Metropolitan University, IIT, Bombay, St. Xavier's College and the Manipal institute of Technology. He has also held acting workshops in practically every well-recognised school in the country.
Rahul continues to write prolifically on issue ranging from gender equality to the future of Indian cinema. His articles may be found on www.intentblog.com a lifelong resident of Bombay, Rahul currently divides his time between Los Angeles, London and Bombay.
Bahar Dutt is the Environment Editor with CNN-IBN.
She has won seven national and international awards including the Wildscreen
Award at Bristol, UK, for her hard-hitting environment investigations which have
focussed on the quiet sell-out of India's forests. She was also awarded the
Sanctuary Award in 2008 and is a trained conservation biologist. Bahar has worked
with different conservation groups for eight years before joining CNN-IBN and is the
author of many scientific reports and articles on wildlife conservation.
Saurabh Kumar is an Electrical Engineer from Indian
Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur joined the Indian Revenue Service and was
posted in New Delhi look after the work of tax administration, collection and
enforcement for 10 years. In 2002, Saurabh Kumar joined the Indian Power sector
as Deputy Secretary in-charge of the Budget and Finance Wing of Ministry of
Power. Saurabh joined National Graduate Institute of Policy Studies, Tokyo Japan
in 2005 for Young Leaders Programme in Public Policy with major in rural
electrification.
Presently working as Secretary, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, the apex body of Government of India for energy efficiency and is engaged with design, implementation and monitoring of programs for promoting energy efficiency in India. Part of the team that is implementing the largest CDM based scheme in the world to incentivise energy efficient lighting in household sector. Saurabh played a part in the policy and design of the first trading scheme for industrial energy efficiency under the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency in India. The scheme will be initiated in the next fiscal year. Involved in mainstreaming energy efficiency and demand side management in India including the very successful STAR Rating program for end use appliances like ACs, Refrigerators, etc. The efforts of the organization is now started to give outcomes with the first two and a half years of the XI plan witnessing avoided capacity addition equivalent to about 3500 MW. This has not only helped avoided investments of Rs. 20,000 crores but also helped reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 14 million tonnes annually.
Presently working as Secretary, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, the apex body of Government of India for energy efficiency and is engaged with design, implementation and monitoring of programs for promoting energy efficiency in India. Part of the team that is implementing the largest CDM based scheme in the world to incentivise energy efficient lighting in household sector. Saurabh played a part in the policy and design of the first trading scheme for industrial energy efficiency under the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency in India. The scheme will be initiated in the next fiscal year. Involved in mainstreaming energy efficiency and demand side management in India including the very successful STAR Rating program for end use appliances like ACs, Refrigerators, etc. The efforts of the organization is now started to give outcomes with the first two and a half years of the XI plan witnessing avoided capacity addition equivalent to about 3500 MW. This has not only helped avoided investments of Rs. 20,000 crores but also helped reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 14 million tonnes annually.
Shailaja Chandra has been a career civil servant having over 38 years experience in the Central and State Governments in
India. Her main focus has been in the areas of infrastructure development, health management and city governance. She
has long years of exposure to the functioning of political and civil society movements and how they can be used to enhance
participatory democracy.
Ms. Chandra became a Permanent Secretary to the Government of India in 1999 and later distinguished herself as Delhi's first woman Chief Secretary in 2004. As Chief Secretary she was actively associated with a government-citizen partnership "Bhagidari" which won the United Nations Public Service Award for improving transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in the Public Service Category. She received the International Clean Cities Award on behalf of the Government of Delhi for introduction of the largest fleet of CNG run (environment friendly) buses in the world.
Ms. Chandra has also headed the National AIDS Control Organisation in India and was appointed the Public Grievances Commissioner and Appellate Authority under the Right to Information Act in Delhi. In both these assignments she came into direct contact with media, NGOs, and the general public and understood their capacity and potential to influence outcomes.
Shailaja Chandra recently held the post of the Executive Director of the National Population Stabilisation Fund, an organisation setup by the Government of India as a civil society initiative.
Shailaja has a M.Sc. in Economics from the University of Wales and an Honours Degree in English Literature. Recently her book "It Crossed My Mind" was released, an anthology of articles on subjects of current social concern. She is also a columnist for a leading Indian national newspaper.
Ms. Chandra became a Permanent Secretary to the Government of India in 1999 and later distinguished herself as Delhi's first woman Chief Secretary in 2004. As Chief Secretary she was actively associated with a government-citizen partnership "Bhagidari" which won the United Nations Public Service Award for improving transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in the Public Service Category. She received the International Clean Cities Award on behalf of the Government of Delhi for introduction of the largest fleet of CNG run (environment friendly) buses in the world.
Ms. Chandra has also headed the National AIDS Control Organisation in India and was appointed the Public Grievances Commissioner and Appellate Authority under the Right to Information Act in Delhi. In both these assignments she came into direct contact with media, NGOs, and the general public and understood their capacity and potential to influence outcomes.
Shailaja Chandra recently held the post of the Executive Director of the National Population Stabilisation Fund, an organisation setup by the Government of India as a civil society initiative.
Shailaja has a M.Sc. in Economics from the University of Wales and an Honours Degree in English Literature. Recently her book "It Crossed My Mind" was released, an anthology of articles on subjects of current social concern. She is also a columnist for a leading Indian national newspaper.
Founding Partner & Director, Volans (2008 to date)
Founder & Non-Executive Director, SustainAbility (1987-2008)
Personal website: www.johnelkington.com
Co-founder of SustainAbility in 1987 (Chair from 1995-2005), and Founding Partner & Director of Volans, John Elkington is a world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable development. In 2004, BusinessWeek described him as "a dean of the corporate responsibility movement for three decades". In 2008, The Evening Standard named John among the '1000 Most Influential People' in London, describing him as "a true green business guru" and as "an evangelist for corporate social and environmental responsibility long before it was fashionable."
Volans, launched in April 2008 aims to find, explore, advise on and build innovative scalable solutions to the great global divides that overshadow the future. Volans' first report, The Phoenix Economy: 50 Pioneers in the Business of Social Innovation, explores a new economic order rising from the ashes with a new generation of innovators, entrepreneurs and investors accelerating the changes essential for delivering scaleable sustainable solutions to the world. The study reveals how these groups are thinking as they develop and scale market solutions to a broad array of economic, social, environmental and governance challenges. The report launched in March 2009 at the Skoll World Forum with backing from the Skoll Foundation, SustainAbility, Singapore's Economic Development Board, Net Impact and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Over time, John has authored or co-authored 17 books. His most recent explores the work of leading social and environmental entrepreneurs. Co-authored with Pamela Hartigan, Director of the The Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, The Power of Unreasonable People: How Social Entrepreneurs Create Markets That Change the World, was published by Harvard Business School Press on 5 February 2008.
John's previous books include 1988's million-selling Green Consumer Guide and Cannibals with Forks: The Triple Bottom Line of 21st Century Business (1997). He has also written hundreds of articles for newspapers, magazines and journal and has written or co-written some 40 published reports. John speaks regularly at conferences and other events throughout the world, and contributes regular columns to media around the world.
In terms of other hats, John is a Visiting Professor at the Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility at the Cranfield School of Management and chairs the Foundation for Democracy & Sustainable Development and the Aflatoun Impact and Policy Analysis Steering Group to being an Honorary Fellow of The Hub and also the Institute of Green Professionals. John is also a member of strategic advisory boards for, among others: 2degrees Venture Partners; Carbon Auditors (out of UCL , London) Circle of Blue, the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes; EcoVadis; Gaia Energy; the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Greenopolis.com; Instituto Ethos; Physic Ventures; Polecat UK, University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership and a Cleantech Fund developed by Zouk Ventures. John is also a Senior Advisor to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, a member of the WWF Council of Ambassadors, a member of the Evian Group Brain Trust and Council of Global Thought Leaders, the Global Leaders Academy; the Sea Change Advisory Board. John has recently joined the newly formed Cleantech Group LLC's Cleantech Innovation Council. John was a Faculty member of the World Economic Forum from 2002-2008.
Founder & Non-Executive Director, SustainAbility (1987-2008)
Personal website: www.johnelkington.com
Co-founder of SustainAbility in 1987 (Chair from 1995-2005), and Founding Partner & Director of Volans, John Elkington is a world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable development. In 2004, BusinessWeek described him as "a dean of the corporate responsibility movement for three decades". In 2008, The Evening Standard named John among the '1000 Most Influential People' in London, describing him as "a true green business guru" and as "an evangelist for corporate social and environmental responsibility long before it was fashionable."
Volans, launched in April 2008 aims to find, explore, advise on and build innovative scalable solutions to the great global divides that overshadow the future. Volans' first report, The Phoenix Economy: 50 Pioneers in the Business of Social Innovation, explores a new economic order rising from the ashes with a new generation of innovators, entrepreneurs and investors accelerating the changes essential for delivering scaleable sustainable solutions to the world. The study reveals how these groups are thinking as they develop and scale market solutions to a broad array of economic, social, environmental and governance challenges. The report launched in March 2009 at the Skoll World Forum with backing from the Skoll Foundation, SustainAbility, Singapore's Economic Development Board, Net Impact and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Over time, John has authored or co-authored 17 books. His most recent explores the work of leading social and environmental entrepreneurs. Co-authored with Pamela Hartigan, Director of the The Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, The Power of Unreasonable People: How Social Entrepreneurs Create Markets That Change the World, was published by Harvard Business School Press on 5 February 2008.
John's previous books include 1988's million-selling Green Consumer Guide and Cannibals with Forks: The Triple Bottom Line of 21st Century Business (1997). He has also written hundreds of articles for newspapers, magazines and journal and has written or co-written some 40 published reports. John speaks regularly at conferences and other events throughout the world, and contributes regular columns to media around the world.
In terms of other hats, John is a Visiting Professor at the Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility at the Cranfield School of Management and chairs the Foundation for Democracy & Sustainable Development and the Aflatoun Impact and Policy Analysis Steering Group to being an Honorary Fellow of The Hub and also the Institute of Green Professionals. John is also a member of strategic advisory boards for, among others: 2degrees Venture Partners; Carbon Auditors (out of UCL , London) Circle of Blue, the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes; EcoVadis; Gaia Energy; the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Greenopolis.com; Instituto Ethos; Physic Ventures; Polecat UK, University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership and a Cleantech Fund developed by Zouk Ventures. John is also a Senior Advisor to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, a member of the WWF Council of Ambassadors, a member of the Evian Group Brain Trust and Council of Global Thought Leaders, the Global Leaders Academy; the Sea Change Advisory Board. John has recently joined the newly formed Cleantech Group LLC's Cleantech Innovation Council. John was a Faculty member of the World Economic Forum from 2002-2008.
Gaurav is the Director of The Green Livelihoods Centre, a collaborative initiative that brings together two of the world's
largest grass-root organisations, The Sierra Club (USA) and the Self Employed Women's Association (India), along with The
Climate Project India, to help generate and propagate ideas on sustainable jobs and lifestyles. Gaurav is also the Asia head
of Dalberg, a boutique management consulting firm focusing on development challenges primarily in developing countries.
Gaurav's background includes over 6 years of BCG Management consulting and a string of social ventures that he helped
found in the environment field. Prior to forming the Green Livelihoods Centre, Gaurav helped create The Climate Project
India (TCPI), with Al Gore in March 2008. The organization now has over 1000 trained volunteers who educate the public
on threat and opportunities associated with Climate Change. Gaurav sits on the Steering Committee of various clean energy
investment funds including Acumen's Rural Energy portfolio and DFID's Clean Energy Fund. He also is an Advisory Board
member to Farmers Net, a broad network of leading farmers who undertake rural development.
In his over six years at BCG, Gaurav's work has included Banking and Finance, Public Sector performance improvement, social and economic policy development and large scale organisational mergers. Gaurav has also worked extensively with Australian Indigenous communities on sustainable development projects. In 2005, he setup The Cape York Institute, a leading Think Tank on Indigenous policy. Gaurav has recently co-founded an organic plantation resort and forest regeneration initiative in India that features a wide array of renewable energy technologies and eco friendly building concepts. More information can be found on www.olandestate.com
Gaurav holds a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford and an MA in Development Economics from Yale University. He also attended the United World College of Hong Kong as an Australian Government scholar.
In his over six years at BCG, Gaurav's work has included Banking and Finance, Public Sector performance improvement, social and economic policy development and large scale organisational mergers. Gaurav has also worked extensively with Australian Indigenous communities on sustainable development projects. In 2005, he setup The Cape York Institute, a leading Think Tank on Indigenous policy. Gaurav has recently co-founded an organic plantation resort and forest regeneration initiative in India that features a wide array of renewable energy technologies and eco friendly building concepts. More information can be found on www.olandestate.com
Gaurav holds a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford and an MA in Development Economics from Yale University. He also attended the United World College of Hong Kong as an Australian Government scholar.
Pranav Nahar is the Managing Director of Evolution Markets India Private Limited. Mr. Nahar is an entrepreneur and has
been involved in building companies and business units across international markets since 1998. Since 2005 he has been
active in the field of carbon trading and climate change and his experience in carbon finance ranges from due diligence and
evaluation of projects to buying, banking and facilitating structures of carbon credits.
Pranav established the Indian office of an LSE listed firm EcoSecurities in India in 2005 and was Country Director till 2007. He has lectured at over 20 seminars and conferences on this subject and was featured on CNBC as a "Young Turk" in 2007. In 2008, Mr. Nahar established his own firm in Melbourne, Australia that dealt with various aspects of project development and consultancy.
Mr. Nahar received an MBA from London Business School and Columbia Business School and has been awarded the British Chevening Scholarship and Deans List honors. Prior to attending business school, Mr. Nahar was the Founder and Director of an Oslo based firm Global Entrepreneurs AS, where he negotiated a NOK 9 Million government funding. During his tenure the company expanded rapidly into 37 countries.
In his spare time, Mr. Nahar is an active citizen and has volunteered with the Big Brother, Big Sister Program as well as Centre for Sustainable Leadership and the Compeer program.
Pranav established the Indian office of an LSE listed firm EcoSecurities in India in 2005 and was Country Director till 2007. He has lectured at over 20 seminars and conferences on this subject and was featured on CNBC as a "Young Turk" in 2007. In 2008, Mr. Nahar established his own firm in Melbourne, Australia that dealt with various aspects of project development and consultancy.
Mr. Nahar received an MBA from London Business School and Columbia Business School and has been awarded the British Chevening Scholarship and Deans List honors. Prior to attending business school, Mr. Nahar was the Founder and Director of an Oslo based firm Global Entrepreneurs AS, where he negotiated a NOK 9 Million government funding. During his tenure the company expanded rapidly into 37 countries.
In his spare time, Mr. Nahar is an active citizen and has volunteered with the Big Brother, Big Sister Program as well as Centre for Sustainable Leadership and the Compeer program.
Dr. Sudhanshu Sinha is a Cambridge Nehru Scholar 1993, holds a Ph.D on Environmental Management from Emmanuel
College, University of Cambridge, UK, where he received numerous awards and bursaries including a 'Cambridge
Philosophical Society Award' for a promising piece of research work on the Ganga River. He has also completed a Certificate
Course on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) from Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok. Dr. Sinha is widely
travelled and has over 17 years of environmental and Climate change work experience with various international, national
and grassroots organisations. He is an academic resource person and M.Sc and Ph.D thesis examiner to many institutions in
India and abroad.
Dr. Sinha is currently Head of Regional Climate Security Project (India and Sri Lanka) at the British Council, British High Commission, N. Delhi. He has earlier worked with United Nations, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and American Field Service (AFS) - India.
Dr. Sinha is currently Head of Regional Climate Security Project (India and Sri Lanka) at the British Council, British High Commission, N. Delhi. He has earlier worked with United Nations, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and American Field Service (AFS) - India.
Dr G S Gujral is currently the Science and Environment Head for British Council, India and Sri Lanka providing science related
inputs into all major BC projects/programmes in the area of Climate change, Education and Innovation. With a basic
background in biological sciences and a PhD in 'Biomass Conversions', from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Dr
Gujral joined the Council as Projects Manager in 1988. Since then he has worked in the British Council managing projects
and other Council's initiatives funded by the UK government. He subsequently moved into the wider field of Science
Environment and Technology leading the British Council team in terms of developing country strategy and operational
programmes. Dr Gujral has several research papers in national and international journals to his credit, which were
published during his PhD and the three-year period he worked as Senior Scientific Officer in IIT Delhi before joining the
Council. Dr Gujral maintains active contact with scientists and scientific bodies both in the UK and India.
Ishani Chattopadhyay holds a degree in Chemical Engineering and Science from the University of Melbourne, Australia and an
MBA from London Business School and Columbia Business School. She started her career as a management consultant with
Accenture in Australia and USA.
Ishani started EcoSecurities, India operations in 2005 and was Country Director of the operations till 2006. During her time at EcoSecurities she designed the market strategy and entry for the Indian market and was responsible for the business development and training new people. Ishani has been covered by several print media articles and presented at several conferences as a carbon expert. In 2006 she joined AES Corporation a major power utility as the Head of Climate Solutions and alternate energy for India and the Middle East.
Ishani co-founded Arctic Holdings in 2008 and currently in Chief Executive Officer with presence in India and Australia. Arctic's business verticals include energy efficiency projects including off grid and on grid lighting projects in India, sustainable and green home platforms in Australia, development of education and training modules for the industry and training of climate change entrepreneurs. The Brightest Climate Leaders is very close to Ishani's heart as she started conceptualizing it in 2008 and is bringing it into fruition in 2009-10. Ishani leads a low carbon lifestyle and insists that her employees and business partners also conduct business in the most energy efficient manner. She has no traditional office space and overheads and believes in using resources efficiently through partnerships and virtual business techniques.
Ishani started EcoSecurities, India operations in 2005 and was Country Director of the operations till 2006. During her time at EcoSecurities she designed the market strategy and entry for the Indian market and was responsible for the business development and training new people. Ishani has been covered by several print media articles and presented at several conferences as a carbon expert. In 2006 she joined AES Corporation a major power utility as the Head of Climate Solutions and alternate energy for India and the Middle East.
Ishani co-founded Arctic Holdings in 2008 and currently in Chief Executive Officer with presence in India and Australia. Arctic's business verticals include energy efficiency projects including off grid and on grid lighting projects in India, sustainable and green home platforms in Australia, development of education and training modules for the industry and training of climate change entrepreneurs. The Brightest Climate Leaders is very close to Ishani's heart as she started conceptualizing it in 2008 and is bringing it into fruition in 2009-10. Ishani leads a low carbon lifestyle and insists that her employees and business partners also conduct business in the most energy efficient manner. She has no traditional office space and overheads and believes in using resources efficiently through partnerships and virtual business techniques.