Development Economist & Governance Expert | Advisory Committee Member – COODU
Dr. S. S. Meenakshisundaram is a distinguished development economist and former Secretary to the Government of India, with extensive experience in rural development and decentralised governance. A key contributor to the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, he played a pivotal role in strengthening Panchayati Raj institutions in India. He has served as Secretary in the Ministries of Rural Development and Disinvestment, Adviser to the Planning Commission, and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Karnataka. Currently, he is Honorary Visiting Professor at ISEC, Visiting Professor at NIAS, and Executive Vice-Chairman of MYRADA. At COODU, he provides high-level policy, governance, and institutional development guidance.
Economist & Water Resources Expert | Advisory Committee Member – COODU
Dr. S. Janakarajan is a senior economist and water resources scholar with over four decades of experience in research, teaching, and policy engagement. He is currently President of the South Asia Consortium for Interdisciplinary Water Resources Studies (SaciWATERs), Hyderabad, and formerly served as Professor and Director at the Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS), Chennai. He has held academic positions at Cornell University, University of Oxford, and SOAS, University of London. A member of the Government of Tamil Nadu’s Advisory Committee on Urban Flood Mitigation, his work focuses on water, wetlands, climate change, urban floods, and climate resilience. At COODU, he provides strategic guidance on watershed development and climate-adaptive water governance.
Environmental Scientist | Advisory Committee Member – COODU
Dr. M. Maheswari is a senior environmental scientist with over 30 years of experience in teaching, research, and extension. She retired as Professor of Environmental Sciences from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, and served as its first woman Professor and Head of the department. Her expertise includes solid waste management, composting and vermicomposting, wastewater management, carbon sequestration, fecal sludge management, and soil and water quality. She has led 26 externally funded research projects and published extensively. Dr. Maheswari has also organized over 250 training programmes for farmers and institutions. At COODU, she provides technical guidance on environmental sustainability, sanitation, climate-resilient agriculture, and public health–linked environmental initiatives.
Environmental Scientist & Innovator | Advisory Committee Member – COODU
Dr. Raman Sivakumar is an environmental scientist, chemist, and innovator with over 30 years of experience across government, academia, and industry. Formerly a Scientist with the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India, he is currently Chief Scientist and CEO of Dr. Raman Environmental Research Foundation, Coimbatore. He has authored 45 research papers, eight books, and holds two patents. He is best known for inventing a commercial-scale zero-waste garbage disposal system and eco-friendly wastewater recycling technologies. His work focuses on pollution control, zero liquid and solid discharge systems, and sustainable campus development. As a COODU Advisory Committee member, he supports innovation-driven environmental and climate-resilient solutions.
Civil Engineer & Urban Resilience Specialist | Advisory Committee Member – COODU
Dr. Beemaraja Sakthivel is a senior civil engineer specializing in hydrology and water resources, with over 25 years of experience in consultancy, research, and teaching. He is the Director of Stone Hands Project & Consultancy Pvt. Ltd., Chennai. His expertise includes integrated urban flood management, river restoration, water resources planning, and climate-resilient infrastructure. He is a pioneer in applying eco-bloc sponge park concepts and Aerial LiDAR technology for flood mitigation. Dr. Sakthivel has led major studies supported by the World Bank, ADB, NDMA, and the European Union. As a COODU Advisory Committee member, he supports technical planning and innovation in watershed management, flood resilience, and climate adaptation initiatives.
Public Health Specialist & Epidemiologist | Advisory Committee Member – COODU
Dr. S. Krishna Kumar is a seasoned public health professional and epidemiologist with over 25 years of experience in health systems strengthening, immunization safety, RMNCH+A, infectious disease surveillance, and CSR-supported health programmes. He holds an MBBS and a Master of Public Health from the National University of Singapore. He has worked with leading institutions including UNICEF, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (Government of India), Jhpiego, WHOsupported programmes, and Singapore General Hospital. He has contributed to national policy initiatives such as the Tamil Nadu State Trauma Care Policy and vaccine safety surveillance systems. As a COODU Advisory Committee member, he provides strategic inputs on public health, sanitation, and health-linked development programmes.
Founder & CEO – INSPIRE | Advisory Committee Member – COODU
Mrs. M. Revathi is a nationally and internationally recognised ecologist, organic farming practitioner, and sustainability leader. She is the Founder and CEO of INSPIRE, established in 2005, working on ecological restoration, biodiversity conservation, disaster rehabilitation, and sustainable agriculture through the Reviving Earth approach. She is widely known for restoring 12,500 hectares of tsunami-affected saline farmland using 100% ecological methods, an achievement appreciated by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Mr. Bill Clinton. Under her leadership, INSPIRE has implemented 26 disaster recovery projects and trained over 14 lakh farmers across India and Asia. As a COODU Advisory Committee member, she contributes strong field-based and policy insights on climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods.
Strategic & Systems Thinker | Advisory Committee Member – COODU
Sudarsan Rajagopalan is a seasoned strategist and systems thinker with over 35 years of professional experience spanning technical textiles, medical devices, and sustainable innovation. With a foundation in textile engineering and management, he specializes in interdisciplinary frameworks that bridge science, technology, and business. His work integrates environmental, health, and hygiene objectives into viable and sustainable business and innovation models. Known for fostering collaborative problem-solving and guiding emerging research, he supports product, process, and organisational innovation across sectors. As a COODU Advisory Committee member, he contributes strategic thinking and systems-level guidance to strengthen institutional design, sustainability initiatives, and crosssector collaboration.