Navigating Challenges and Unlocking Opportunities for Gender Inclusion in India

Ms. Pooja Bose is the Executive Vice President of Marketing, Communication and Sustainability at WERT International, a globally recognised, mid-sized business consulting company with its headquarters in India. Prior to her role at WERT International, Pooja has worked as a Communications Specialist with the Indo-German Energy Forum (IGEF-SO), GIZ and extensively supported the Indo-German Green Hydrogen Task Force, agreed upon by the Governments of the Federal Republic of Germany and of the Republic of India. As part of her role at IGEF-SO, she has created a vast network of government stakeholders and private players in the sector. Previously, she has worked as an Editor with Times of India, Bennett Coleman and Company and daily news reporter with Daily News & Analysis (DNA). During her Master's in International Communications and Media Studies from Monash University in Melbourne, Pooja has also worked as a researcher and communications assistant with the Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub and organised 'Are We There Yet?' - a TEDxMonashUniversity event on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.

I am Phoolvi Agarwal, an energy consultant and sustainability leader committed to helping companies achieve their sustainability goals. My expertise lies in ESG integration, carbon footprint analysis, and designing innovative solutions for decarbonization. I am also actively involved in advancing solar PV agrivoltaics and waste-to-energy initiatives to promote sustainable practices. I hold a master's degree in Energy and Environmental Sciences from the University of Groningen, Netherlands, and a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from BITS Pilani, Dubai. As the founder of Hyon Energy, I am driven by the ethos of "people, planet, profit," focusing on enhancing land-use efficiency, driving sustainability efforts, and contributing to India's ambition of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. Beyond leading Hyon Energy, I serve as the Head of the South Asia Chapter for the Women in Green Hydrogen, a non profit organization, where I champion gender inclusion and leadership in the renewable energy sector. I also work closely with global sustainability networks and organizations like the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, fostering impactful dialogue and innovation to shape a sustainable future.

A Distinguished Scientist (DS), Dr. Chitra Rajagopal, held the post of Director General (Resources & Management) in the DRDO till Dec 2020. She concurrently held the post of the First Appellate Authority (FAA), DRDO as per RTI Act 2005. She was earlier Director General Systems Analysis and Modeling (SAM), during which period she also held additional charge of DG (Life Sciences). Before taking over this charge, she held the position of Outstanding Scientist & Director, Centre for Fire, Explosive & Environment Safety (CFEES), where she spent a substantial part of her career in R&D on Explosive, Fire and Environment Safety for MoD applications, and which she played a key role in setting up and nurturing. After her superannuation from Govt service, she held the post of Director, Centre of Excellence in Process Safety and Risk management, IIT Delhi till Jan 2024. She currently chairs GoI Expert Committee on Hydrogen Safety, Sub-Committee on Safety, Cross-cutting analysis and Integration, and is a member of the Advisory Group to advise Empowered Group on Science &Technology, under National Green Hydrogen Mission. She co-chairs the Indo-German working group on 'Safety, Quality, Infrastructure and Legal Framework' of the Indo-German Energy Forum (IGEF), the Safety and Standards sub-committee of the US-India Hydrogen Task Force (H2TF) and is the Indian representative in RCS Task Force in Quad Global Green Hydrogen partnership She is a recipient of several National and DRDO awards and nominee for International awards, including Lifetime Achievement Award, Eminent Engineer award, Shakti Samman award, Suman Sharma award, DRDO Scientist of the year award. She is AICTE Distinguished Professional since 2024, INAE AICTE Distinguished Visiting Professor Anna University since 2019, Adjunct faculty at IIT Madras and IIT Delhi, since 2020. She is a Fellow of various International and national Professional bodies Dr. Chitra Rajagopal received her Bachelors Degree in Chemical Engineering in 1982 from the Department of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Punjab University, Chandigarh, for which she was awarded University and Arun Modi Gold Medals for outstanding academic performance. She was awarded Ph.D from the Chemical Engineering Deptt, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi in 1989 in the field of Heat Transfer.

Arpit Sharma is an accomplished professional currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Skill Council for Green Jobs (SCGJ). With a distinguished career within the organization, he has held various key positions that showcase his commitment and expertise in the field. Arpit began his journey at SCGJ in 2015 as the Country Head of Assessment and Accreditation, where he played a pivotal role in ensuring the quality and effectiveness of Affiliation and Assessment processes within the organization and across 600+ training centres spread across 25 States. His dedication and strategic acumen led to his progression within the company, subsequently assuming the role of Vice President for Strategy and Operations Division and further rose to the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) at SCGJ. In this capacity, he demonstrated leadership in shaping and executing strategic initiatives, contributing significantly to the financial and overall growth and success of SCGJ. A proud alumnus of the University of Delhi, Kirori Mal College, Arpit Sharma holds a Bachelor's Degree in Sciences which lays a solid academic foundation for him. Furthermore, he completed his Management program from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode (IIM-K). This educational background, coupled with his extensive professional experience, reflects Arpit Sharma's commitment to excellence and continuous learning. His role as the CEO underscores his capability to oversee and streamline operational aspects, ensuring the smooth functioning of SCGJ. His multifaceted experience, from assessment and accreditation to strategic leadership, positions him as a valuable asset to the organization, contributing to its mission of promoting Green Jobs and Sustainable Practices in the Indian workforce. Prior to Skill Council for Green Jobs (SCGJ), he contributed significantly to the Tidal and Marine Energy Business (Small Hydro) for the renowned Kirloskar Group. Before venturing into the renewable energy sector, he gained valuable experience in the financial sector by working with prestigious banks. His professional journey includes tenures at global financial institutions such as HSBC Bank, Deutsche Bank, and the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS). During these stints, he demonstrated his financial and business acumen, strategic thinking, and ability to navigate the complex landscape of the banking industry. Under his leadership, SCGJ showcased its India Skills 2022 Winner at the World Skills 2022 event in Kyoto, Japan, specifically participating in the Renewable Energy Skill category. This participation underscored SCGJ's commitment to excellence and proficiency in renewable energy skills on the global stage.

Dr. Rashi Gupta, fondly known as 'Batterywali of India', is the pioneer of manufacturing of Advanced Lithium Batteries in India alongwith the 'Worlds Smartest Lithium Battery'. She is the Founder & Managing Director of Vision Mechatronics Private Ltd, leading it towards a name to reckon for in the field of Robotics, Renewable Energy & Energy Storage. A Women Entreprenuer who has been fearless & ferocious in creating a brand for herself & the company in these male dominated fields. If one takes a closer look at the alchemy of this achiever, two distinct virtues pop up, besides perseverance & hard work. These are: pioneering spirit & willingness. Coupled with an impressive background, it was not therefore surprising that she became a prominent name in the Renewable Energy Sector of India and is featured as Asia's Most Influential Women in Renewable Energy, 2020. She has been working on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment issues globally. She holds degrees of BE, MBA, LLM, & PhD to her title. She is a committee member of Bureau of Indian Standards for Batteries, Energy StorStorage and E-Mobility. She is also Member of International ElectroTechnical Commission. She is also a committee member of National Energy Storage Committee- FICCI, CleanTech Business Club- Chair of Task Force- Energy Storage & Smart Energy, Chairperson-Womens India CBC, CBC Vice Chair India.