Tamil Nadu: A Green Ecosystem for Investments in Clean Energy Supply Chain

Mr. Thangam Thennarasu, hon’ble minister for industries, Tamil Nadu, was born in Mallankinaru village of Virudhunagar district. He earned his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. As a graduate engineer, he worked with SPIC (Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation Ltd.) for about 10 years before his political plunge. Mr. Thennarasu has more than two decades of legislative experience. He was elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly five times starting with his first electoral victory from the Aruppukottai constituency in the 1997 by-election. In 2006, he became the Minister for School Education, Sports & Youth Welfare, and Archaeology.

Now, as the Minister for Industries, his ambition is to make Tamil Nadu the leading destination for industrial investments in South Asia. He was lauded for handling the oxygen demand during the COVID crisis in the state. He is a voracious reader and a good orator. His interests include archaeology, ornithology, wildlife, numismatics, and Tamil literature.

Mr. S. Krishnan is currently the Additional Chief Secretary, Industries Department, Government of Tamil Nadu. With a service record of more than 30 years, Mr. Krishnan holds many accomplishments, such as serving as Additional Chief Secretary, Finance to the Government of Tamil Nadu, the Senior Advisor in the Office of the Executive Director for India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Bhutan of IMF, representing Government of India in the G20 Expert Groups on International Financial Architecture and Global Financial Safety Nets, and assisting in preparing the Union Budget as well as the Tamil Nadu State Budget during multiple years, to name a few.

Through his multiple roles as a public administrator, Mr. Krishnan has demonstrated expertise in aspects of policy-making, public finance, and socio-economic development issues. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, and a Master of Arts in Economics from Annamalai University.

Mr. Chalamalasetty had an extended entrepreneurial career during which he was involved in evolving startup businesses in Information Technology, Infrastructure and Environmental sectors in the United Kingdom and India. Mr. Chalamalasetty is experienced in mergers and acquisitions, transition and project management with a successful track record of managing operations involving large remote teams. He co-founded and developed the Company with Mahesh Kolli in 2004 and incorporated it in early-2006 to raise funds for financing early operations. He is responsible for effectively implementing the strategic business road map of the Company. Mr. Chalamalasetty is a graduate in Computer Science and holds a Masters from North West University.

Mr. Sanjeev Gupta is Executive Director and Head (Corporate Strategy) at Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL). He is also a Director of “IOC PHINERGY” which is a joint venture of IOCL and Phinergy, an Israeli start-up company specialising in hybrid lithium-ion and aluminium-air storage systems. He has also served as Co-chair of “FICCI Task Force on Oil Alternatives”. In his current role at IOCL, he focuses on business development activities, particularly related to Energy Transition and ESG, identifying & developing new business opportunities.

Shri Gurdeep Singh, DIN: 00307037, aged 53 years, is a Mechanical Engineer. He has more than three decades of experience in power generation sector. He started his career with NTPC Limited and has worked at various levels both in Indian and Multi-national Companies namely Powergen, CLP, IDFC, CESC and AES. He has worked in different areas of Power Sector ranging from business development, projects and operations. Prior to joining NTPC, Shri Singh was Managing Director, Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited.

Siddharth Jain is a Member of the Board of the INOX Group. A diversified Indian conglomerate with activities spanning Manufacturing Industrial Gases, Cryogenic Equipment, LNG Storage & Distribution Equipment. The Group also owns one of the largest and fastest-growing multiplex chains of Movie Cinemas in India. The Group has a track record of building a successful business over the past 80 years, distinguished by integrity, delivery and best practices accompanied by sustained growth.

Siddharth joined the Group in 2001 and has been actively involved in the Groups’ Strategic Planning & Business Development initiatives. He is directly responsible for the Industrial Gases, Entertainment and Cryogenics Equipment Manufacturing businesses. Under his management, each of these companies today has achieved leadership positions in their respective industries.

With a degree in Mechanical Engineering, he is an alumnus of The University of Michigan Ann Arbor and has an MBA from INSEAD. He is a Member of the World Economic Forum at Davos and has been honoured with the prestigious Economic Times ’40 Under Forty’ India’s Hottest Business Leaders Award 2018. He is also a Member of the Young Presidents’ Organization & President of the Gas Industries Association of India. Lastly, he is involved in various social work through his family’s foundation and is an avid golfer.

Mr. Jayadev Galla is the Managing Director of Amara Raja Batteries Limited since August 2003. Under his guidance and leadership, the Company has achieved many milestones, viz., including the crossing of Rs.6800 Crores turnover; expanding footprint in overseas markets, especially in the Indian Ocean Rim, etc. He has been very active and providing valuable suggestions to the Company's strategy and growth plans.

Mr. Jayadev Galla later assumed charge as the Vice Chairman of the Amara Raja Group of Companies from August 1, 2013.

Prior to joining the Company, he served as International Sales Executive, GNB Battery Technologies, Inc., USA (now part of Exide Technologies, Inc., USA). Mr. Jayadev Galla is currently a Member of Parliament, a Member of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), National Council, Young Indian National Governing Council & Core Group, Young Presidents Organisation, Hyderabad Chapter and also an External Member, Board of Management Studies (PG) in Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati. He was also the past Chairman of CII, Andhra Pradesh State Council. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, USA.

BA (Hons) in Economics, St Stephen's College, Delhi University; MBA, Cornell University. Over 16 years' global management and finance experience in France, UK, Hong Kong, India and the US. Founder & CEO of Bharat Light & Power. Leading wind and solar power generation company in India (IPP). Group has 3 independent companies - large utility scale wind/solar, distributed solar and technology services - Orion. Orion is an Enterprise AI based IOT platform. Leverages proprietary failure prediction models, big data analytics & machine learning to help industries improve productivity and optimize energy consumption. Provides predictive intelligence for over 2GW of wind & solar farms globally. Also, AI based solutions to industries such as auto, FMCG, mining, oil & gas, steel, cement etc. Earlier with General Electric (GE) for 14+ years. Was President & CEO of GE India, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh in last role. Previous roles included GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS), 1996: roles in marketing, structured finance and risk management; 2005, opened GECAS office in Delhi; Senior Vice-President and Country Head, India, arranged more than $1 billion in financing for India's airline industry; President & CEO, GE Commercial Finance, India; 2007. At present, Chairman of the Board, APM Terminals (Maersk Group) - Gujarat Pipavav Port; Member, Board of Directors, SRF; and Board member Anand Group, and Indian Energy Exchange. National Council of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Young Global Leader, World Economic Forum and on WEF YGL Foundation Board. Co-Chair of WEF GFC on Energy. Aspen Institute Fellow. YPO member. Interests: national swimmer, golf, classical music and Formula 1.

Over a decade of experience in biotechnology, engineering design, automation, prototyping and manufacturing & system design, Mr. Vadassery earned a place in the Forbes India's List of 30 under 30, 2018.

Jonas Moberg was in May 2021 appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Global Green Hydrogen Organisation. From 2018 to May 2021, Jonas held several positions at Trafigura, including as the Global Head of Corporate Affairs and the Global Head of Government Affairs.

Jonas was the Executive Director of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative 2007-2018, the global transparency and anti-corruption standard implemented by 55 countries and supported by hundreds of large companies and organisation.

Prior to building the EITI, Jonas was a Senior Advisor in the Executive Office of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Director at the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum and member of the Swedish Foreign Service, posted to London and Maputo.

Jonas holds law degrees from the London School of Economics and from the University of Stockholm.

Jonas co-authored the book “Beyond Governments – Making Collective Governance Work” and has written and commented extensively on transparency, corporate accountability, and the role of business in human rights.

Jonas has served on a number of boards and working groups, including as the co-chair of the Ethical Toy Program.

Shubhranshu has over 17 years of experience in the power and clean energy field and has wide experience in strategy, restructuring, capacity-building, public-private partnerships, project finance and regulations. He has also led assignments advising the Central Government on several contemporary initiatives in the power sector including advise to the Ministry for New and Renewable Energy on devising the commercial framework for implementing Phase 1 of the National Solar Mission.