We – the People of Planet Earth…
Meet the Catalysts!
At the heart of SusPoT are the people who make transformation possible — our passionate team, insightful advisors, and dedicated volunteers. Together, we bring diverse expertise, lived experiences, and a shared commitment to catalysing sustainability pathways that are just, regenerative, and impactful.
We are thinkers and doers, united by the belief that change starts within — and multiplies through collaboration.
SENIOR ADVISORS
Dr. Balachandra Patil
Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
Dr. Balachandra Patil is an internationally recognized expert in energy, environment, and sustainability, ranked among the top 2% energy scientists worldwide. With 35+ years of experience at IISc, Harvard, UNDP, and other global institutions, he has authored 150+ papers, led 48 major projects, and mentored 40 PhD scholars, advancing sustainable energy and environmental policy.
Dr. Thomas Vogt
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Dr. Thomas Vogt is Vice Director and Head of Energy Systems Analysis at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and cross-topic activity lead on Bridging the Granularity Gap at Helmholtz Association’s Energy System Design program. With a PhD in Physics and extensive leadership experience at Europe’s premier research institutes, his work advances cutting-edge energy system modeling, energy meteorology, and technology assessment to design the energy systems of the future.
Prof. J Srinivasan
Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
Prof. J. Srinivasan is a Distinguished Scientist at the Divecha Centre for Climate Change and Honorary Professor at IISc, Bengaluru, with over 45 years of pioneering work in climate science. A former lead author and review editor of IPCC reports, and principal investigator of the Indo‑French Megha‑Tropiques satellite mission, he has published 200+ papers, co‑authored 8 books, and received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ministry of Earth Sciences for his contributions to climate research and policy.
CORE TEAM & TECHNICAL ADVISORS
Mitavachan Hiremath
Founder
Mitavachan is the Founder of SusPoT – Center for Sustainability, and a member of the Technical Advisory Group at the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and GHG Protocol, driving global climate action. With rich international experience across leading institutions like German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Wuppertal Institute, UNFCCC, and IISc, he has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including from UNESCO, GIZ, Humboldt Foundation, and Shakti Foundation, for his work in energy, climate change, and sustainability. He holds a Master’s from the University of Oldenburg, Germany, and has authored 16 research publications.
Karun Kumar
Board Member
Karun oversees program activities in the energy vertical and supports youth and community initiatives. With expertise in sustainable energy, rural revitalization, food security, and welfare economics, he brings diverse experience from organizations like BPCL, Timbaktu Collective, Fraunhofer IWES, and the University of Oldenburg. A passionate advocate for sustainable communities and regenerative practices, Karun holds a Master’s in Sustainability & Renewable Energy from the University of Oldenburg and has worked extensively in rural India on climate and social equity issues.
Sangeeta P
Core Team Member
Sangeeta works on renewable energy and policy analysis issues. She holds a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering with distinction from UVCE. With research experience at National Aerospace Laboratories and a track record of presenting at technical conferences, she brings strong analytical skills and fresh perspectives to advancing clean energy transitions.
Santosh Kumar
Board Member
Santosh oversees the organization’s research programs. With over 10+ years of experience as a Senior Engineer and Data Scientist in the aerospace and energy industries, he combines expertise in engineering, analytics, and materials research. Santosh holds a Master’s in Materials Engineering from IISc Bengaluru, where he also served as a Senior Research Fellow, and is passionate about applying data-driven insights and materials science to tackle real-world sustainability challenges.
Geetanjali Purkayastha
Communication Strategist
Geetanjali Purkayastha is a sustainability professional specialising in decentralized renewable energy, ESG metrics, and waste management. Currently Manager – Advocacy & Member Engagement at CLEAN, she has prior experience with Sustainalytics, HCL Foundation, and the Assam Government, contributing to ESG analysis, CSR, and development programmes. She holds a Master’s in Ecology, Environment & Sustainable Development from TISS and a Bachelor’s in Economics from NEHU.
Thanmal Ravichandran
Development Research
Thanammal is a seasoned development professional with a PhD in Gender and Institutional Analysis from the University of Hohenheim, Germany. She brings deep expertise in animal welfare, sustainable and rural development, women’s empowerment, program evaluation, and cooperative organizations, with a strong track record of advancing inclusive and impactful development initiatives.
Christian Someren
Consulting Futurist
Christian Someren holds a Master’s in Renewable Energy from Germany and a Bachelor’s in Materials Engineering from the University of Alberta, Canada. With experience in infrastructure design and project management in Canada, he currently researches renewable energy integration in the Netherlands. Passionate about advancing “genuine” development, he also contributes to social impact assessments for economic development programmes in his spare time.
Binod Prasad Koirala
Technology Policy
Binod Prasad Koirala holds a Doctorate from the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management at Delft University of Technology, in collaboration with Comillas University, Madrid. With over 15+ years of experience in renewable energy research and development, he has contributed to leading institutions including IIT Kanpur, Fraunhofer Institutes in Kassel and Freiburg, the Institute for Solar Energy Technology, and the University of Twente, Netherlands. His expertise spans innovative energy systems and sustainable technology development.
Andrea Ballarin
Life Cycle Assessments
Andrea Ballarin is a researcher focusing on integrating electro‑mobility and renewable energy into distribution grids. He holds a Master’s in Renewable Energy from the University of Oldenburg, Germany, and a Bachelor’s in Materials Engineering from the University of Padova, Italy. Previously, he worked as a consultant at Next Energy – EWE Research Centre and the University of Paris, exploring storage systems, photovoltaics, and organic solar cell technologies.
CONSULTANTS
Manan Aggarwal
ESG & Net-Zero
Manan is a sustainability Consultant with 5+ yrs in ESG strategy, reporting and Private Equity at PwC, EFRAG and Kingfish Group. He has a MS from Trinity College Dublin and PG Diploma from IIIT Delhi.