Sudha Venkataraman brings over 15 years of active experience in Administration, Human Resource Management, Accounts and Event Management, besides taking care of Travel arrangements of senior leadership in different organisations. Sudha has diverse working experience ranging from Corporate, Hotel Industry, Education Industry, International Organisations and NGO. She has excellent organising skills. Sudha joined ICLEI South Asia in November 2024. Prior to ICLEI South Asia she worked with UN-Habitat, Middlesex University London’s Regional Office for South Asia, New Delhi-based environment policy and advocacy organisation, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), International Forum for Environment and Environment and Technology.

Sudha is a complete team player. She can read, write and speak English, Hindi and Tamil fluently.

Jubaer joined ICLEI South Asia in 2015. He has expertise in urban resilience planning. He holds a Masters in Disaster Management from the University of Dhaka, Bachelor’s in Urban and Rural Planning from Khulna University, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Development Planning from National Academy for Planning and Development. He is also an Environmental Management System Internal Auditor (ISO 14001:2015), and has certifications on climate change and cities from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.

Jubaer is a member of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) and has professional records in the field of urban planning, climate change and development research. He worked in both government and non-government organizations and has wide engagement with the local government institutions in Bangladesh. With more than 12 years of experience, he has conducted a number of development projects on climate change adaptation, renewable energy, and urban development plans along with national and international partners – UN-Habitat, European Union, Rockefeller Foundation, JICA, World Bank, RMMRU, DFID and the Local Government Engineering Department of the Government of Bangladesh.

Currently, at ICLEI South Asia, he is managing the Bangladesh country office and coordinate projects based in various cities of Bangladesh.

Rahul joined ICLEI in May 2012 and has a Masters degree in Environmental Management. Previously, he has worked as an Environment Auditor and audited top hotels situated nearby National parks of India. He assisted them to manage their Solid Waste, Energy and Water Consumption. He has also worked in water and air labs of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC, Govt. of NCT). Rahul has experience in the field of training and capacity building in the field of Sustainable Management and has a working knowledge of GIS.

Currently, in ICLEI South Asia, he is involved in environmental sustainability projects focusing on environmental management, water, solid waste, and climate adaptation and also with CPHEEO Manual on Municipal Solid Waste Management, SUNYA- Towards zero waste and Realising DReAMS projects.

Sadeque Mahmud joined as a Consultant – VLR in Singra at ICLEI South Asia. He completed his graduation in Urban and Rural Planning from Khulna University and post-graduation in Governance and Development Studies from Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh. He is an Urban Planner by Profession. He has 12 years of work experience and has worked on urban local governance and livelihood support programs. He has also done program planning, management, training, monitoring and evaluation both nationally and internationally.

Rahul Rathi Joined ICLEI South Asia on 17th June 2013. He has a background in Geography with a Masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning from CEPT University. Previously, he has worked on Arc GIS and Auto CAD.
He has a good understanding of Urban and Regional Planning. He has worked on preparing Urban Development Plan for Kathmandu (Nepal) during his masters.
He has completed his internship at PAS (Performance Assessment System) and during Internship of two months he worked for City Sanitation Plan in two cities of Gujarat.

He represents ICLEI in Rajasthan and is presently involved in Integrated Urban Water Management (AdoptIUWM). He is working for Rajasthan cities, Kishangarh and Jaisalmer, and helps in organising workshops.

Debojyoti joined ICLEI South Asia in September 2024. He is a planner with more than 6 years of experience mainly in the environment sector. He is a graduate in spatial planning and a post-graduate in environmental planning from the School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi.  Prior to ICLEI, he worked in organisations such as IPE Global Ltd., GIZ and Wildlife Institute of India. He has experience in integrated coastal zone management, wetland management, capacity development, climate risk assessments, and multi-stakeholder engagement. He has worked in Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Damini has joined ICLEI South Asia with a dedication to contribute in urban development processes, centered around Climate Resilience and Adaptation. She brings expertise as an Urban and Environmental Planner, holding degrees from School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal. In her previous role, she made significant contributions in areas such as Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Community Engagement, GIS mapping, Data Analysis, and Zonal Plan development. Her diverse skill sets and commitment to promote positive Environmental change make her an integral part of ICLEI South Asia.

Alex joined ICLEI South Asia in May 2017.  He holds a Doctoral degree in Environmental Studies – Landscape ecology from Cochin University of Science and Technology, and a Masters’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of Calicut. He is also a recipient of a certificate of proficiency in Geoinformation Science and Technology from Mahatma Gandhi University.

He has been working for over 10 years in the fields of Landscape Ecology, GIS and Remote Sensing, Biodiversity Conservation, Biocultural Restoration, and Extension & Training Activities. Prior to joining ICLEI South Asia, he has worked with the Forest Health and Extension & Training Division of Kerala Forest Research Institute, GIS and Remote Sensing Laboratory, Christ College Irinjalakkuda, and Dairy Chemistry Laboratory, Kerala Agriculture University.

Currently, in ICLEI South Asia, he is a Scientist, working in Kochi on various biodiversity related projects.

Dr. Upma Manral joined ICLEI South Asia in December 2024. She brings over 12 years of expertise in wildlife research, having worked across diverse ecosystems in the Trans- and Western Himalayas, Gangetic floodplains, and Eastern Ghats. She has previously worked at the Wildlife Institute of India and KREA University. At the intersection of science, society, and policy, she has played a key role in developing various policy documents and building capacity among key stakeholders. Upma has taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses while also securing funding for independent research. She holds a PhD in Wildlife Sciences and a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies. She has several scientific and popular publications and has presented her work at various platforms, including leading a discussion for one of the IUCN/SSC working groups.

As a Deputy Manager at ICLEI South Asia, she focuses on developing urban food gardens, the City Biodiversity Index, and urban greening plans.

Shayeesh holds a Master’s Degree in Zoology from Goa University. He also has experience in the field of community engagement, biodiversity documentation, and environmental science research. Shayeesh has worked as a Research Assistant at Mineral Foundation of Goa under the project Development of a Sustainable Bird Tourism Model at Navelim Wetland (IBA), Goa and as an Administrative Office Assistant at Tripura Foundation Builds HoPE. He has engaged with students from more than 20 schools in Goa during his career to make them aware of nature, bird conservation, and community development. He joined ICLEI in 2018 as a City Associate in Goa.

Vanshika joined ICLEI South Asia in April 2024. She holds a master’s degree in Biodiversity & Conservation from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences from University of Delhi, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Law & Policy from National Law University.

In her previous role at National Biodiversity Authority, Government of India, she was deputed in Punjab Biodiversity Board, wherein she played a pivotal role in supporting the preparation of People’s Biodiversity Registers, conducting research for potential Biodiversity Heritage Sites and execution of biodiversity conservation projects in Punjab.

Prior to that, she has also worked for The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi, where she contributed to the Carbon Finance projects, assisting the team in drafting Project Description Document (PDD), collation of the field data for the Carbon Stock Assessment, and drafting Monitoring Report (MR) after field data evaluation. At ICLEI South Asia, she primarily works with the Biodiversity Team.

Nikhil joined ICLEI South Asia in November, 2013 and has a Master’s degree in Energy Technology from the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand and a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has diverse experience of working in areas of energy and climate change with city governments, national and international organizations, technical experts and businesses. Nikhil is also a certified lead auditor for ISO 50001 Energy Management System.

He is managing the execution of various projects and programmes as part of ICLEI’s Energy & Climate team. Nikhil is engaged in assisting cities through activities such as preparation of baseline energy and GHG emission inventories, energy and climate action planning, identification and implementation of renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions, undertaking technical research and analysis, stakeholder engagement and coordination among others.

Nikhil is currently working with Indian cities to assess their feasibility and potential to deploy efficient district cooling systems under UNEP’s District Energy in Cities Initiative. He has been involved in an Asian Development Bank assignment to carry out an investment grade energy audit for a LED street lighting retrofit project for 100,000 streetlights in Malaysia. Under the CapaCITIES project, he is assisting cities to address climate mitigation and adaptation in an integrated manner. He also supports ICLEI South Asia in its activities as the Asia LEDS Partnership Secretariat and manages ICLEI’s GHG emissions inventory tool HEAT+. Nikhil has been engaged in previous projects such as Urban LEDS, Urban Green Growth Strategies for Indian cities, and NAMA research study in India.

Nikhil has previously worked as an Energy Specialist with a private consulting firm based in Mumbai.

C. Sellakrishnan is a postgraduate in Town and Country Planning course from Anna University, Chennai. He has about eight years experience in urban and regional planning projects.

Previously, he has worked on various State and Central Government sponsored Research and consultancy projects such as City Corporate Plans, Traffic Operational and Management Plans (TOMP) etc., as a Project Associate at the Centre for Human Settlements (CHS), Anna University. He joined Speck Systems Ltd Hyderabad in 2006, and has worked on urban projects using satellite imageries, GIS and urban utility mapping jobs.

Currently at ICLEI South Asia, Sellakrishnan has been involved in CCP cities of Coimbatore and Madurai. He has worked on greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and implementation of the GHG emission reduction plans. At present he is working on the Local Renewables Model Communities Network project in Coimbatore City Corporation in Tamil Nadu.

Anandhan joined ICLEI South Asia in 2012 as Senior Engineer in New Delhi.
He holds B.Tech in Energy & Environmental Engineering from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.

He has around 8 years of professional experience in the areas of Climate Change Mitigation including Renewable energy and energy efficiency; GHG inventory and Low Emission Development Strategies.

Previously he was working in the Climate Change & Sustainability Services team of Ernst & Young Private Limited, where he was handling CDM validation and verification projects, involved in the Accreditation and registration of the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) project and Baseline energy compilation and baseline energy audit of Designated Consumers (DC) under Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme.

In ICLEI, he has worked in a variety of projects, including Promoting Low Emission Urban Development Strategies in Emerging Economy Countries (Urban LEDS), Solar Cities, development of ICLEI’s Harmonized Emission Analysis Tool (HEAT) plus, South-South cooperation between cities in India, Indonesia, and South Africa., etc.

Currently, he is working to deliver “Asia LEDS Partnership Secretariat Services”, which aims to promote and advance LEDs in the Asia region; also he is involved in building Sustainable “National and Sub National Greenhouse Gas Estimates” for the waste sector.

Ankit joined ICLEI South Asia in October 2014. He holds a master’s degree in Environmental Planning from CEPT University, Ahmedabad, a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering, and a post-graduation diploma in Environmental Law and Policy from National Law University, Delhi. Currently overseeing Gujarat State Operations, Ankit manages various energy and climate change projects, including those addressing air pollution. Beyond ICLEI, Ankit previously worked with the World Resources Institute (WRI) in Gujarat. Notably, he has provided technical support to the city of Ahmedabad for Urban 20 (U20) 2023, one of the engagement groups of the G20.

Keshav joined ICLEI in 2011. He holds a Master’s in Environmental Studies from the School of Environment Studies (SES), University of Delhi and two Postgraduate Diploma in Urban Planning & Development and Environmental Law & Management and an Appreciation program in Sustainability Sciences.

Keshav is a Climate Reality Leader trained by Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and has a four and a half years of experience in the Greenhouse Gases (GHG) Emissions Accounting, Urban Low Emission and Climate Resilience Development planning. Previously, he has been working in the sustainable development sector with organizations like the World Wildlife Fund -India,Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Ltd., Toxic’s Link etc.

Currently at ICLEI South Asia, Keshav is an integral part for most projects and programms on Low-carbon Climate-resilient Development. He is also currently preparing the Delhi State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) with the Department of Environment, Government of Delhi as per the guidelines of Ministry of Environment & Forest, Government of India. He has also been associated with ‘Quantification of Mitigation Intervention of Delhi City as a Whole’ wherein he inventorised Delhi’s Greenhouse Gas Emission and critically analyzed the Delhi government mitigation interventions.

Daniel Robinson is a climate change expert and has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in engineering from Anna University, Chennai. He has more than 15 years of experience in working with the city, state, and national governments on climate change, technology, and governance, and has the Project Management Professional certification from the Project Management Institute. He has worked with the Asian Development Bank, C40 Cities, and City Connect Foundation, and joined ICLEI South Asia in July 2022.

Gaurav’s proficiency spans across solar (both photovoltaics & thermal), wind, energy storage, power sector analysis, data analytics, and Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning. He holds a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), and is currently pursuing an executive MBA in energy sector management from PDEU. Prior to joining ICLEI South Asia, Gaurav has worked at organizations like RTI International and GERMI. His track record includes successful endeavours in system design, project management, consultancy, policy & regulatory evaluations, techno-economic feasibility studies, and pilot demonstrations within the energy domain.

Souhardo joined ICLEI South Asia in September 2016. Before this he had worked with WRI India and IIM Ahmedabad. He has almost three years of work experience in the field of urban development. His expertise also includes environment planning, logistics management, and land management. He is a Master of Planning graduate from CEPT University Ahmedabad, and a Master of Science graduate from Presidency University, Kolkata. He has several publications to his name including a World Bank and an IIM paper.

Currently at ICLEI South Asia he is involved with the CapaCITIES project in Siliguri.

Anuradha joined ICLEI South Asia in 2019. She has double master’s degrees: one in Planning (M. Plan) with specialisation in Environmental Planning from CEPT University, Ahmedabad, and the other in Science (M. Sc.) in Geography from the University of Calcutta.

She has diverse experience in the field of on-site sanitation, municipal service delivery, and community development. Prior to this, she worked with the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). She was deputed as a Sanitation as well as a GIS expert in ASCI for providing technical support to the Government of AP ‘S3 Andhra Project’, and Telangana. Responsible for developing GIS maps, data management, and analysis of 100% property records of pilot towns in these two states aligned with SBM-urban.

She also has extensive working knowledge of Transaction Advisory Services, documenting the best practices and community mobilization for research with marginalized populations at the grass-roots level, and worked towards providing natural resource-based livelihood.

At ICLEI South Asia, she is responsible for Holistic Solid Waste Management Project in GHMC with a specific focus on Plastic Waste Management.

Bhupandra Salodia joined ICLEI South Asia in April 2017 and is presently involved with the CapaCITIES project in Udaipur. He is an architect and has a post-graduation degree in Urban and Regional Planning (2012-2014) from CEPT University, Ahmedabad.

He has a diverse experience of 7 years in the Urban Planning and Architecture domain. Previously, he worked as an urban planner in a Delhi-based firm- Mosaic. He has worked on projects that developed the Tourism Master Plan of Chilika Lake and its Catchment in Odisha, the Tourism Master Plan of Tehri in Uttrakhand and the Coastal Tourism Development Plan for Karnataka.

Sai joined ICLEI South Asia in April 2024. Sai brings over 8 years of experience in the energy sector, spanning both conventional and renewable domains. He has worked in diverse environments, including non-profit, for-profit, and intergovernmental organizations, along with a brief entrepreneurial stint. His expertise spans research, advocacy, consulting, and knowledge management roles. A trained Civil Engineer, Sai holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Management from the MESPOM program (Erasmus).

He currently coordinates the Asia LEDS Partnership platform in ICLEI South Asia. Additionally, Sai supports the Competitive Procurement Center (CPC) for Clean Energy and coordinates activities for the U.S.-South Asia Mayoral Platform on Sustainable Cities. Before joining ICLEI, he worked with leading organizations in the energy and sustainability space, including BRIDGE TO INDIA and the Centre for Science and Environment.

Outside of work, Sai enjoys learning new languages, trying different cuisines, and taking long walks.

Shardul Venegurkar is a mechanical engineer from Pune. Before joining ICLEI South Asia in March 2017, Shardul worked with Orange County Foundation, Pune. He has over four years of work experience in the renewable energy sector and is familiar with environmental technologies like solar PV, solar thermal, small scale wind turbines, GHG inventories, green building certification for residential buildings, lime plaster, rainwater harvesting, sewage water treatment plant, waste composts, and more. His expertise includes rooftop solar PV systems, solar thermal systems, energy efficiency, and management.

Shardul played a key role in a project which provided green energy (solar energy) to every apartment in residential societies through a common roof-top solar PV system ultimately spreading awareness and increasing confidence among the residents regarding solar energy use at the household level. He worked with the FRAUNHOFER ICT team, Germany, on a project aimed at turning a township of more than 100 acres into a carbon-neutral one and regularly disseminates at architectural and engineering firms, information about green buildings.

Nagendran Nagarajan joined ICLEI South Asia in 2010. He holds a Master’s in Spatial Information Technology – Department of School of Earth and Atmospheric Science from the University of Madras and He holds a Master’s in Environmental Science in Bharathiyar University also Post Graduate in Disaster Management in IGNOU.

He has around 12 years of professional experience in the areas of Remote Sensing and GIS, Municipal GIS, Town Planning, Climate Change and Mitigation, Non-Motorised Transport Planning, Master Plan for Solid Waste Management, Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency; Solar Plant Design, GHG inventory and Low Emission Development Strategies, Bio-Gas Plant design with Measuring, Reporting and Verifying (MRV).

Previously he was working in Senior GIS Engineer of Magnasoft Private Limited, where he was handling deployment and different platforms in Utility Mapping, Transportation Networking Management, Town Planning Regulations, Water Utility Management (SCDA), Housing Board Construction Management & Preparation of Master Plan with DPR’s cities in TamilNadu. Decentralised Waste Water Management for Coimbatore city.

In ICLEI, he has worked in a variety of projects, including Asian Cities Adaptation, SUNYA Zero waste management, Solar Cities, ACCCRN, Engagement of Road Safety Management Consultant to help the Government of TamilNadu, Comprehensive Mobility Plan for Coimbatore Local Planning Area, On-street Parking Management strategy for Coimbatore, Strom Water Management Strategy for Coimbatore, Asia LEDS Partnership, Plastic Waste Management Strategy and Action Plan for Hyderabad.

Tools Handling ICLEI’s Harmonized Emission Analysis Tool (HEAT) plus, Energy Performance and Carbon Emissions Assessment and Monitoring (ECAM), ICLEI ACCCRN Process (IAP) tool kit, carbonn Climate Registry (cCR), Municipal GIS, Water Distribution Analysis and Design Software – Bentley (WaterGEMS), MRV for Bio-GAS, Libelium Ecosystem Tool (Sensor Nodes, SDK.API, Data Analysis), Libelium Air Quality. Vulnerability Mapping & Assessment for Urban Health – Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India.

Mohammed Maaz Ali joined ICLEI South Asia in March 2022. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Planning from the School of Planning and Architecture,  Vijayawada, followed by an M. Tech in Urban Planning from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur. Ali started his career as a Nodal Officer at Kakinada Smart City Corporation Limited, Andhra Pradesh where he carried out various initiatives under the Smart Cities Mission. He has been selected as a finalist by the Commonwealth Association of Planners for the 2021 Outstanding Young Planner Award from India. In addition, he has received felicitation twice for his professional performance as an urban planner. Presently at ICLEI South Asia, he is working as a Senior Project Officer for Energy and Climate projects.

Senthil Kumar Arumugam joined ICLEI South Asia in 2019. He holds a master’s degree in Sustainable Energy Technology from the Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands, and a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical with Specialisation in Energy Engineering from VIT University, Vellore, India.

He has versatile project experience in various energy technologies and specialised in low-grade heat recovery for his master thesis research. He was briefly involved in a start-up project working on a passive cooling idea to cool down buildings using energy from sunlight.

Currently, at ICLEI South Asia, he is part of the Energy and Climate team.

Prateek joined ICLEI South Asia in June 2019. He holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Power Engineering from the National Power Training Institute, New Delhi, and a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani. Prateek carries a varied experience from the power sector to sustainable energy and climate change. As part of ICLEI South Asia, he is supporting Energy & Climate team on greenhouse gas emission accounting & reporting, low emission development planning, climate action plan preparation, and baseline assessment of climate policies and programmes in South Asia.

Ramya MA joined ICLEI in 2024 as a senior project officer with the Energy and Climate team. She holds a bachelor’s in chemical engineering from Anna University, Chennai and a master’s in environmental management and planning from Lund university, Sweden. Having previously worked with WRI India, She comes with over 4 years of experience working on training, development and implementation of climate action plans and capacity building programs for leaders at the subnational level. She has also worked on short term projects with ICLEI in Bonn, the municipality of Figuera da foz in Portugal, and Volvo constructions in Hallsberg, Sweden.

Ritu joined ICLEI South Asia in September 2024. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan (2015), and a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from N.I.T Surat (2021). With over four years of experience in the urban development sector, Ritu brings a multidisciplinary approach to sustainable urban development, combining her architectural expertise with urban planning.

She has worked on urban resilience projects focused on community engagement, nature-based solutions, and strategic planning, collaborating with urban sector departments and local municipal corporations. Ritu has also contributed to flagship projects like Unnat Bharat Abhiyan. Currently, she is part of the Energy and Climate team.

Dipak joined ICLEI South Asia in August 2021. Prior to this, he interned at the Narayanganj City Corporation where his key responsibilities were to monitor air quality and develop planning strategies for reducing carbon emissions. He has also worked as a Monitoring & Evaluation Officer in Practical Action where he assisted in the project “Improved Cok Stoves (ICS) in Bagerhat district”. He has also worked in an action research project on urban agriculture, mitigating the urban heat island effect and improving the quality of life of urban poor supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban & Regional Planning from Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology (CUET) and a post-graduate diploma in International Relations from the University of Dhaka.

Vasavi joined ICLEI South Asia in February 2022. Prior to this, she worked as an Assistant Professor at the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Vijayawada. She was also associated with the Administrative Staff College of India as a Senior Research Associate under the WASH project. Vasavi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Planning followed by a Master’s degree in Transportation and Infrastructure Planning from SPA, Vijayawada. Currently, at ICLEI South Asia, she is part of the Energy and Climate team.

Kishan joined ICLEI South Asia in December 2021. He has completed his Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from the L.J. College of Engineering and Master’s in Planning with a specialization in Urban Infrastructure from CEPT University, Ahmedabad. He has diverse work experience as a site engineer in monitoring the execution of work. He has also worked as an intern for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) projects in Patan, Gujarat. Presently at ICLEI South Asia, he is looking at the projects related to energy and climate.

Akshay is an architect and an urban planner with a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from IDEAS, Nagpur followed by a master’s degree in Urban Planning from CEPT University, Ahmedabad. He has worked on assignments for Nagpur Smart City Mission, Nagpur’s town planning scheme, commercial and residential architectural projects, and initial conceptualisation of various projects. Akshay has more than 2 years of experience and was also a Teaching Associate at the Faculty of Planning, CEPT University prior to joining ICLEI South Asia in October 2022. Currently, he is looking at the Zero Carbon Building Accelerator (ZCBA) Project at Nagpur.

Sahil Patel has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in planning, with specialisation in Urban Infrastructure, from CEPT University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Before joining ICLEI South Asia in December 2022, he worked with an infrastructure design consultancy firm in Gandhinagar, where he gained multidisciplinary work experience in projects related to transport planning. He also interned with the Centre for Environment Education and the Centre for Water and Sanitation, CEPT University, under the Water4Change programme. He is currently working on ICLEI South Asia’s energy and climate projects in Ahmedabad.

Devas joined ICLEI South Asia in February 2022. He has completed his Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from Gujarat Power Engineering and Research Institute, followed by a Master’s degree in Planning (specialisation in Urban Infrastructure) from CEPT University, Ahmedabad. Post his education, Devas was associated with the Commissionerate of Rural Development, Government of Gujarat, where he worked on schemes like Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen. He also interned at the Center for Water and Sanitation (CWAS) and analysed the impacts of the Delhi Free Water Policy scheme on different parameters. Currently, at ICLEI South Asia, he is part of the CapaCITIES Phase II project.

Satya joined ICLEI South Asia in May 2023. He obtained  his Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT), Jaipur, and went on to pursue a Master’s degree in City Planning from IIT Kharagpur. His career began as an urban planner in consultancy services. Prior to joining ICLEI South Asia, he has worked at the All India Institute of Local Self Government in Hyderabad. Currently, he is focused on  energy and climate projects at ICLEI South Asia.

Raghav, an urban designer, joined ICLEI South Asia in October 2023. He holds a Bachelor’s in Urban Design from CEPT University, Ahmedabad. Previously, he worked as an Urban Design/Research Fellow with National Institute of Urban Affair‘s Youth Action for City Transformation program. He has also contributed to the design development of the Pune metro project and collaborated actively with various designers and researchers on impactful knowledge products. Currently, he focuses on climate and energy projects at ICLEI South Asia.

Shubh Dhaliwal joined ICLEI South Asia in July 2023. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Planning from the College of Engineering Pune and a Master’s degree with a specialisation in Environmental Planning from the School of Planning & Architecture, Bhopal. As a Project Associate with ICLEI South Asia, he plays a pivotal role in energy and climate projects, showcasing his expertise and commitment to sustainable development and environmental conservation. 

Chimmiri Sai Rashmi joined ICLEI South Asia in October 2024. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal, and a master’s degree in Urban Planning from the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology, Ahmedabad.

Before joining ICLEI South Asia, she gained valuable experience in urban development, capacity building, and community engagement through her work with the Urban Management Centre in Ahmedabad and the Indian Institute for Human Settlements in Bangalore. At ICLEI South Asia, she is part of the Energy and Climate team, contributing to the advancement of sustainable development and fostering climate-resilient solutions.

Rutvik Bhatt holds a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning and a Master’s degree specialising in Infrastructure Planning from CEPT University in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Through his career, Rutvik has taken on diverse roles as an urban planner, researcher, and data analyst, focusing on various spatial planning projects. Notably, he has developed key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess and compare smart cities globally. During his internship with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Rutvik contributed to the revitalisation efforts of historically significant water bodies through the Amrit Sarovar Mahotsava program. In July 2023, he joined ICLEI South Asia and currently plays an active role in the CapaCITIES Phase II project, based out of Vadodara, Gujarat.

Dechen became a part of ICLEI South Asia in November 2023. Holding a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Delhi Technological University, she brings valuable expertise to her role. Before joining ICLEI South Asia, she gained practical experience through an internship with the Public Works Department under the Government of Delhi. Furthermore, Dechen has contributed to the field by publishing a research paper titled “Study of Traffic Flow for Estimation of Level of Service.” Passionate about environmental issues, Dechen’s interests span across ESG, smart cities, energy efficiency, and sustainability.

Dhyey became a part of ICLEI South Asia in February 2024. He is a graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from CEPT University, Ahmedabad. His prior experience includes working with architectural and urban transit planning firms, focusing on urban design and development projects in Gujarat and Delhi. During his postgraduate internship, he contributed to the development of a Heat Action Plan for AUDA, Ahmedabad. He has joined the Energy and Climate Team at ICLEI South Asia.

Gayatri Bhadra joined ICLEI South Asia in June 2024. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Odisha University of Technology & Research and a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from the CEPT University. Prior to joining ICLEI South Asia, she gained valuable experience in real-estate and architectural design through various internships. As a Project Associate at ICLEI South Asia, she plays a key role in advancing energy and climate initiatives, leveraging her expertise in sustainable development and her strong commitment to environmentally responsible urban planning.

Avantika holds a postgraduate degree in Planning with a specialization in Environment Planning from the School of Planning Architecture, New Delhi, and a Bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning, from Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar. She brings in the experience of more than 12 years in the field of Urban Planning, Mobility, Governance, Policy, and Reform. She has primarily been involved in infrastructure development works being undertaken as a part of national government initiatives such as Smart Cities Mission, AMRUT, JNNURM, etc.

She has also worked on projects funded by various multilateral and bilaterals such as the Asian Development Bank, European Union, Bernard van Leer Foundation, World Bank, DFID, IFC, etc. She has been involved in various projects such as developing spaces for young children and their caregivers, providing technical assistance under mobility and built environment in various smart cities, developing action plans and strategies for gender-sensitive transport, streamlining rag pickers within city governments, providing assistance to city governments on different service sector issues, preparing city development plans, smart city proposals, institutional development studies for city governments, etc.

Vijay joined ICLEI South Asia in August 2013. He is a Civil Engineer with Master’s degree in infrastructure planning from Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) University, Ahmedabad.

Vijay has over 2 years of experience in the field of urban development and management, and has worked on infrastructure and management aspects of various projects in more than 15 cities, which includes Freight management, Infrastructure improvement, pedestrian infrastructure for heritage area, City Development Plan, Circulation plan, Management plan, Financial feasibilities, Road network geometrics, Traffic impact assessment and decongestion and Urban Green Growth.

Currently, at ICLEI South Asia, he assists the Urban team on all urban development and infrastructure activities.

Yougal Tak is an Architect and Infrastructure Planner, who has over seven years of experience in traffic and transport planning as well as transport research. He completed his post gradation from the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) University, Ahmedabad in 2010.

Prior to joining ICLEI- SA as Assistant Manager, he was associated with the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), a one of its kind state government department under the Urban Development Department (UDD), in Bengaluru, Karnataka and has been involved in projects ranging from Smart City Proposals, feasibility of BRTS in tier I & tier II towns, preparation of On- Street Parking Management Systems, to planning, designing and implementing bus priority lanes.

He is currently based out of Udaipur, Rajasthan where works with the local corporation and other concerned stakeholders on the projects, Supporting Smart Urban Mobility and Built Environment in Indian Cities and CapaCITIES.

Amar Kulkarni joined ICLEI South Asia in April 2019. He has a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Pune and a master’s degree in Urban Management from the Technical University of Berlin, Germany.

He has worked professionally as well as volunteered in the field of architecture, urban development, and environmental conservation in the past. He is passionate about environmental conservation and sustainable development.

At ICLEI, he is working on the EcoLogistics project in Panaji.

Om Prakash joined ICLEI South Asia in 2021 as ECCD Specialist. Hailing from Udaipur, Rajasthan, Om brings in robust contextual thematic expertise to his projects. He has more than 13 years of extensive field experience on child holistic development and age appropriate pedagogy design for children. His unique blend of communication, community management and networking skills have resulted in project successes that have been appreciated at various national and state level platforms.

Om has wide experience of working with children and youth, and strengthening government’s existing structures. He is a national level trainer on Early Childhood Care and Development, Sustainable Menstrual Health Management, Life Skills to name a few. He has upskilled more than 9000+ individuals (youth, women, Anganwadi workers). Om has received two national level fellowships: Youth Ki Awaaz and Safe Access Fellowship; mentored 50+ National and International fellows and interns of reputed Universities and Institutions.

Manasa Garikaparthi is an urban design and social development professional, dedicated to fostering people-centric urban planning that promotes environmentally sustainable and socially equitable development. With a passion for addressing the complexities of social, cultural, and ecological systems in cities, she is committed to creating innovative solutions that shape resilient urban environments.

Manasa holds a degree in Urban Design from SPA Delhi (2018) and an MSc in City Design and Social Sciences from the London School of Economics (2024), funded by a Commonwealth Scholarship. Over the years, she has contributed to strategic urban planning initiatives, including smart city projects, city decongestion strategies, comprehensive mobility plans, streetscape designs, transit-oriented development and water-sensitive urbanism.

Her professional experience includes working with renowned organizations such as Prior + Partners (London), Aecom (Gurgaon) and Oasis Design Inc. (Delhi). Manasa has also represented India in prestigious forums, including the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) Young Planning Professional workshops in Qatar and Spain, and the EU +CityxChange Sustainable Energy in Cities initiative in Norway.

Varsha holds a master’s degree in Infrastructure Planning from Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar, and a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Punjab technical University. Before joining ICLEI South Asia in October 2023, she was associated with the Rural Development Department of Himachal Pradesh as a Spatial Planning Specialist and with WASH Institute as a Liquid Waste Management Technical Coordinator in the State of Punjab & Haryana.

Katya Garg is an architect, with a master’s degree in urban management studies from CEPT University, Ahmedabad, and a bachelor’s degree in architecture from G. D. Goenka University. Before joining ICLEI South Asia in September 2022, she was associated with organisations such as BUSARA Centre for Behavioural Economics, Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority, and ARCOP Associate Pvt. Ltd. through various academic and internship experiences. At ICLEI South Asia, she is supporting the implementation of the Building City Leadership on Clean Air Action in Delhi-NCR project.

Arun Thakur is a transport planner with a master’s degree in Transport Planning and a bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. Before joining ICLEI South Asia, he gained experience with organizations such as RTC Engineering Consultants India Private Limited, Hyderabad, where he contributed to Traffic Impact Study projects based in the UAE. Prior to RTC, he was part of the team at the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE), Faridabad, working on Road Safety Audits and Traffic Management projects.

Rick Sarkar joined ICLEI South Asia in October 2024. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Calcutta University, as well as a Master’s degree in the same field with a specialization in Science and Technology Communication from Jadavpur University.

Before joining ICLEI South Asia, Rick worked with Limitless Stree and V-Force, an initiative by United Nations Volunteers India, where he gained valuable experience in community engagement, campaigning and communication. His diverse experience and expertise in science communication align with ICLEI’s mission to promote sustainable urban development and environmental awareness across South Asia.

Anita is a skilled Graphic Design professional with 6+ years of experience in design, communication, community engagement, and social media. She specializes in creating and designing branding and marketing materials, including event collateral, website designs, and other print and digital assets, with a focus on the environment, architecture, and planning sectors.

Anita holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Environmental Planning from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, which she completed in 2017. In addition, she has enhanced her design skills through the Professional Design Bootcamp and Marketing courses from Design Boat School.

Currently, Anita is a part of ICLEI South Asia, where she applies her expertise in design to support environmental and sustainable development initiatives. Prior to this, she contributed to the design teams at CEE and MCPL.

Harihara joined ICLEI in 2021. Prior to joining, Hari was part of Flexi Staffing Solutions handling clients coordination besides his own KRA. Before stepping in to ICLEI, Hari had worked with various industries viz., FMCG, Automotive, Infrastructure Equipment and Consultancy sectors and carries 22 years of HR experience and handling all gamuts of HR arena – Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, PMS and HR Operations. He played a key role in building HR functions from scrap in two organizations (Quippo Group and Elsewedy Electrometer) and established various processes and systems in order.

He has done his Post Graduation in Commerce from Annamalai University and Master Diploma in Personnel Management & Industrial Relations from Symbiosis, Pune.

At ICLEI South Asia, Hari is handling the Human Resources activities for South Asia operations.

Pratibha Aswal joined ICLEI South Asia in November 2024. She has more than 12 years of diverse experience in the development sector. She is proficient in developing policies and procedures, managing recruitment and selection, organisational development, procurement, and administration. She holds a Master’s degree from Annamalai University, along with a Diploma in HR from the All India Management Association. Before joining ICLEI South Asia, she was associated with BRLF, PRADAN, Solidaridad, Project Concern International, and CIVIC. Pratibha has a strong aptitude for learning, team-building, and problem-solving.

Devishree is a commerce graduate and specializes in administration and business development. Prior to working with ICLEI South Asia, she was with Indian Technocrat Limited (Civil Engineering Consultant) as a Business Development Executive. She has also been associated with non-profits in the past. Devishree has worked with Winrock International as a Programme Associate.

Ritwick Boyi joined ICLEI South Asia’s Hyderabad office in November 2011. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science (Computers) from Osmania University in Hyderabad and is pursuing a Master’s in Business Management. He was earlier associated with ISB, Hyderabad.

Currently, at ICLEI South Asia, Ritwick manages the Hyderabad office activities and supports the team in managing daily operations. He also assists with the facilitation of ICLEI South Asia’s operations.

Manoj has been with ICLEI South Asia since the beginning of 2009. He provides support to all office activities and assists with the facilitation of ICLEI South Asia’s operations.

Mukund joined ICLEI South Asia in 2010. He provides support to all office activities and assists with the facilitation of ICLEI South Asia’s operations.

Shankar joined ICLEI South Asia in 2010. He supports all office activities and is involved in assisting ICLEI South Asia with its daily endeavours. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology.

Ariful joined ICLEI South Asia in September 2020. Currently he is based in Dhaka, Bangladesh and supports all office activities at the ICLEI Bangladesh Country Office. He is good team player and has interest in traveling.

Vishal Joined ICLEI in July 2012. He has a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA). He has a proven record of contributing to the profitability of previous employers by his efficient and hard working ability with extensive experience in Accounting & Financial systems. Previously, Vishal was working as a Senior Executive at Religare Securities Ltd.

Currently, at ICLEI South Asia, he is responsible for the finance and accounts activities of the office which includes preparing financial reports of various projects, liaising with the bank, managing salaries and payments, etc.

Manoj has a Master’s Degree in Commerce (with specialization in Finance) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce (Accounting Hons.) from Ravenshaw University, Orissa.

He joined ICLEI – South Asia in November 2019 as Accounts Officer. He was previously associated with REACH, Advocacy in Tuberculosis as Senior Finance and Admin Officer & Jindal Stainless Limited where his responsibilities included maintaining books of accounts and reporting financial information as per senior management and donor requirements.