Dr. Pooran Pandey

Awarded for his distinguished contribution in the area of science and sustainability by the Government of the UK (2022), Pooran Chandra Pandey currently serves as a Member of the Board, World Food Programme Trust (2016 onwards), 2020 Nobel Laureate, besides representing Climate Scorecard, US (2018 onwards) as its Resident Representative. Previously, he served as Chief Executive Officer, Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute, Berlin (2016-2018), Executive Director, United Nations Global Compact (2011-2016), Director, Bennett, Coleman & Co., (2007-2011), and Nippon Denro (1985-1988).

Having chaired and co-chaired government committees to frame voluntary sector policy (2007) besides successfully advocating for and later overseeing national satellite accounting committee (2007-2011) in partnership with Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Indian Planning Commission, and International Labour Organization to quantify contribution of national household’s (unpaid) work as a percentage of national gross domestic product to effect more efficient planning processes and functional public policies. Advising Indian government in revising country’s bilateral aid policy (2004-2006) and foreign contribution regulation act (2004-2007), Pooran also served as member of UN-private sector committees at regional Economic and Social Commissions in Bangkok and Addis (2012-2016). He also served as a member of the Committee of the Whole (CoW), Commonwealth Foundation, UK (2007), Human Rights Committee at UNHRC, Geneva (2012-2015) and as India Chair for Holcim Group’s Sustainability and Social Audit Committees (2015-2019).

Pooran’s wide ranging public policy, and strategic advisory roles with the UN, national governments, private sector and think tanks internationally went on to earn him UN Secretary General’s appreciation for his demonstrated ability in advocating the urgency of integrating sustainability with global development processes at UNHQ, New York (2008). Author of three books and contributor to Global Encyclopedia on Sustainable Development, Pooran also authored more than a dozen policy documents for KPMG, Deloitte, DNV GL, Accenture and metro rail corporation (2011-2016) covering issues of industrial water, sustainable urban mobility, sustainability and climate. He was also a focal point for High Level Panel appointed by UN Secretary General for Asia Pacific (2012-2015) contributing to the organization of G-20/ T20 meetings and the Munich Security Conference in Germany (2016-2017).

Policy author to New Zealand Center for Global Studies, New Zealand, Middle East Institute, Washington D C, Hans Siedel Foundation, Germany, Romanian Institute for Europe-Asian Studies, Center for Economic Diplomacy, Croatia, Global Techno Politics Forum, US and Nkafu Policy Institute, Cameroon, Pooran is also a visiting fellow, Central European University, Brussels, UTS, Sydney, and Nalanda University. He has also directed high level policy panels and global town halls in Greece, Sweden, Russia, Austria, UK, and Germany (2016-2018).

Pooran holds an M. Phil degree in International Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, (1994) with distinctions and scholarships awarded by Asian Productivity Organization, Tokyo, (2003), Swedish Institute, Sweden, (2010), Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK (2011), UNEP-Tongji Institute on Environment for Sustainable Development, Shanghai, (2019), and Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, Taipei (2021/2022).

He is also a Chevening Scholar