Sustainability Crusaders Awards 2025

3rd Sustainability Crusader Awards 2025

Mr. Suresh Prabhu

Former Union Minister , Indian Global Leader in Sustainability and Governance

Shri Suresh Prabhu is a visionary leader, global policy strategist, and sustainability advocate.
He has served as a Union Cabinet Minister in 10 key portfolios and as a six-time Member of Parliament, played a pivotal role in shaping India’s economic, trade, infrastructure and environmental policies.
He’s a chartered accountant = ICAI, Delhi with an AIR of 11. L.L.B from New Law College in Mumbai and pursuing PhD in climate change from Frei Universitat Berlin & State Public Finance.
He holds honorary doctorates with IFRI Berlin and multiple international institutions.
His areas of expertise lies from Banking, to Education and Diplomacy and Networking. From Energy management and Environmental Conservation to International Trade and Transportation and many more..
Co-Founder Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation.
Founder & Former Chairman of Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).
Throughout his remarkable journey, he has been honored with countless awards, celebrating his selfless dedication and nuanced efforts toward all segments of society, spanning various significant sectors.
Recipient of the Goud Saraswat Brahmin Samaj Maharatha Award , Indian of the Year 2017 Award.
Declared as "Best Member of Parliament in 13th Lok Sabha"
Ranked as the 2nd best performing Minister in India Today's report
Consistently ranked in the top five ministers in India from 2014 to 2017 based on performance and accessibility in nationwide surveys conducted by various institutions

Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, FRS

Chairperson Award Jury

Known for his own world-class scientific research in polymer science & engineering.
A dominant force in shaping India’s science, technology and innovation policies and performances.
Honoured with Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan.
Served as Director General of CSIR, Director of NCL, President of Indian National Science Academy and Chairman of National Innovation Foundation.
Received a record of 54 honorary doctorates from universities around the world and holds the most prestigious position as National Research Professor for 10 years.

Mr. Pradeep Bhargava

Chairman MECF, Jury member

Worked for Government of India for a Decade - Atomic Energy Commission, Electronics Commission, BHEL. Consultant to UNDP and World Bank.
Business Leadership in 3 decades for Bharat Forge, Kalyani , GE Lighting .
President and Chairman and various organizations such as MCCIA, EFI, CII Western Region and others.
Conceived & Steered “Pune Power Model” - Leading to Zero Load Shedding in city of Pune.
Independent Director on Board of Corporates / Social Sector, Pimpri Chinchwad Smart City, Lighthouse Communities, MECF.
Trustee at KEM Hospital, Pune; Lila Poonawalla Foundation.

Sustainability Crusader Award 2023 for Corporate Leadership

Dr. Ganesh Natarajan

Chairman 5F World (Panel Moderator)

He’s a distinguished Alumnus of IIT Bombay, NITIE (present day IIM, Mumbai) and Harvard Business School.
He is the Chairman of 5F World, Co-founder of Global Talent Track, Lighthouse communities Foundation and Skills Alpha, Chairman of Board of Honeywell Automation India Limited.
He has been recognized by EY and the Asia Pacific HR Forum for excellence in technology entrepreneurship and people-centric leadership.
Held pivotal roles in NASSCOM, NASSCOM Foundation, CII, and AIMA. He has Authored thirteen books notably – ‘India’s Pathways to success’.

Sustainability Crusader Award 2023 for Corporate Leadership

Mr. Ashish Gaikwad

MD, Praj Industries (Jury Member)

Over 32 years of experience in industrial automation, controls, software applications, and process technologies.
Responsible for increasing HAIL's market cap over 4 times in six years, from 1.0 Billion US$ to over 4.0 Billion US$.
Recognized for multiple business achievements, including receiving the President's Club Award, Star MNC of the Year 2019’, by Business Standard.
Named among India's top 100 Wealth Creators by Fortune, India.
Holds a Bachelors of Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology, Pilani

Mr. Kunal Kumar

IAS, Government of Maharashtra

He is an Alumnus of IIT Roorkee, with a masters degree from National University of Singapore, Harvard Kenedy School and Harvard Business School.
Former Municipal Commissioner of PMC and District Collector of Aurangabad and Jalgaon.
Served as the Joint Secretary and Mission Director at the Smart Cities Mission, Government of India.
Under his Leadership he has focussed on National Campaigns Young Leaders For India’s Future and Data Driven Governance .
Recipient of Prime Minister’s Indosan Award & Aadhar Governance Award, Best E- Governed District – Jalgaon.
He’s now the Principal Secretary in Marathwada Statutory Development Authority, Government of Maharashtra.

Adv. Vandana Chavan

Former Member of the Rajya Sabha

Former Mayor of Pune (1997–98).
Three-time Counsellor in the Pune Municipal Corporation (1992–2007)
Strong advocate for women’s empowerment and sustainable development, having pioneered SMILE (Savitri Marketing Institution for Ladies’ Empowerment)
Passionate environmentalist, she leads the ALERT initiative, spreading knowledge on climate change in more than 100 schools under the Climate Warrior program.
Member of The Climate Project – India, initiated by Nobel Laureate Al Gore, and part of the Metropolis Women International Network Task Force.
Recipient of the prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship (USA).

Mr. Shekhar Singh, IAS

Commissioner, Nashik Kumbh Mela

He is an alumnus of IIT Guwahati and a postgraduate in Structural Engineering from the University of Berkeley California.
Served as Assistant Collector at Nagpur, CEO at Zilla Parishad Sindhudurg and Collector for Gadchiroli.
Outstanding District Award of District Skill Development Scheme Award by Hon'ble Central Minister of skill Development.
PCMC secured first position in the category of cities with a population exceeding 10 lakhs under the Majhi Vasundhara Abhiyaan in 2023.
Winner of the Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure (BICI) award and received $400,000 grant.
PCMC under his leadership secured an IGBC platinum rating for Green Cities Certification.
He is also the recipient of the first Sustainability Crusader Awards for the category Green Governance.

Mr. Ashish Bhandari

Managing Director Thermax

He is an Alumnus of IIT Mumbai with an MBA from the Duke University.
He has past experience includes working with Schlumberger, consulting with McKinsey & Co. and two start- ups overseas.
At GE, under his leadership he was credited with building GE Oil & Gas into one of GE’s biggest businesses in India.
Worked on industrial businesses including GE Enterprise Solutions, GE Energy, and GE Oil & Gas.
He is a former VP - India and South Asia region at Baker Hughes for growth strategy and operational excellence.
Currently, CEO and MD at Thermax.

Mr. J.P. Shroff

Chief Patron J. P. Shroff Foundation

Mr JP Shroff is the owner director of the Shroff Group, Known as the Skill man of India, he interacted as CREDAI national representative for skill development with the Honourable Prime Minister of Shri Narendra Modi.
He has been the ex-Chairman of KUSHAL, IGBC and many other organizations.
He is also a trustee of Janaseva Foundation.
Winner of:

CSR skilling construction workers at India Property Awards 2023 at Dubai
Rotary Vocational Excellence Award 2023
BAI – Lifetime Achievement Award – “Nirman Ratna”
Suryadatta National Lifetime Achieve Award 2024
AESA Lifetime Achievement Award

Mrs. Pranati Shroff Munot

Founder Sustain and Save LEED AP

Director – Sustain and Save & Shroff Group
Recipient of the Sustainability Leadership Award in 2023.
Honored Fellowship from the Swedish Government for Sustainable Business and Responsible Leadership.
Scholarship of Goldman Sachs Women Entrepreneur program organized by SIIB and ISB.
Chairperson FOCUS Pune Chapter, Member of CII IGBC, Environment Co-Convenor National and Maharashtra CREDAI,