INVESTING RESPONSIBLY

Ashok has nearly 30 years of extensive experience of applying ESG and sustainability aspects spanning across financial services sector, consulting and research. Ashok leads the NIIF’s approach to investing responsibly for impact while working closely with investors, investment colleagues and company management to assess and manage ESG risks and opportunities and helping build “NIIF-way of business”. Before joining NIIF in 2018, he was the Director & Head ESG at Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP). Prior to this, Ashok led IDFC Alternatives ESG practice, working with multiple stakeholders including investors, investee companies, sustainability forums and communities. During his ~17 years stint with the IDFC and its subsidiaries, apart from other key initiatives he was responsible for managing a USD 3.8 billion alternatives portfolio in project equity, private and real estate asset class and has gained practical hands-on experience in implementing the IFC Performance Standards / ESG requirements. He started his career with ERM India in 1997 with the Natural Resource Management & Social Development group. Ashok is member of the ESG working group at Global Infrastructure Investors Association (GIIA). Ashok is a recipient of the prestigious Chevening Scholarship from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) of UK Government for pursuing environmental management and sustainable development program at University of Wales, Bangor. He holds M.Phil. degree in Applied Economics from Centre for Development Studies Jawaharlal Nehru University, a rank holder with distinction in MSc Environmental Sciences from Andhra University and a BSc Biological Sciences from University of Delhi.

Betsy Vincent A. works closely with the Private Market Fund Investment Team and EMSD team, PMF Portfolio funds and its Portfolio companies at the corporate level and asset level. Betsy brings with her over 20 years of work experience in climate change and sustainability and has headed sustainability in consulting and in organisations such as the Future Group, and in recent capacity, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts. Another 8 years of her work has been in core marketing. She holds a master’s degree in management studies from Mumbai University, a post graduate diploma in Environmental Law and Policy, an Executive Programme in Corporate Sustainability from IIM Calcutta, and an International General Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety (NEBOSH, UK).

Manmeet is Principal - ESG at NIIF, having joined us in April 2023. He is an ESG Professional with 16 years of diversified experience in fund and ESG consulting, focused on integrating ESG factors in investments (both greenfield and brownfield projects) to manage risk and add value from origination through to exit. His profile includes evaluating and monitoring E&S risks and opportunities in transactions within portfolio of investments through two funds - MF and SOF. He is responsible for integrating NIIF’s E&S Policy and Principles, and its investor’s requirement in all its projects during entire lifecycle of the investment. He previously worked as Associate (Principal Consultant) in ESG vertical of AECOM and as Senior Consultant in ERM, leading E&S team where his role was to spearhead ESG business with integration of ESG into corporates, private equities, FIs and PEs. He has worked in (4) South-Asian countries and managed projects in seven (7) African countries, Israel, US, and Philippines. He has worked with various investors including US DFC, Australian Superfund, IFC, ADB, Global Environment Facility (GEF) Capitals, Climate Fund Manager (CFM), Finn fund, Green Growth Equity Fund, Stride Climate Investment, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Blackstone, and GIC. Manmeet has completed Masters in Environment Management from GGSIP University, Delhi and Bachelors in Botany Hon’s from Delhi University, lead EMS auditor (14001) certification from IEMA, UK, and certification course on GRI for sustainable reporting. He has also trained in Building Climate Resilience in 2022, Project Management Training in 2018, Leadership Programs in Hong Kong (2015) and KL, Malaysia (2016), Advanced Training on Green Buildings Rating Systems, and Lead Assessor Training (Merger & Acquisition) in 2012.

Rakhee is a Vice President in the ESG team, based in Mumbai. She has over 20 years of varied experience working in the environmental domain, including Environment/EHS Auditing, Environment Monitoring, Environment Clearance (EIA), Water & Wastewater and Sanitation Sector, and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) accounting (including training and capacity building).Rakhee is responsible for ESG integration for the Private Markets portfolio through pre-investment diligence, post investment EHS monitoring and performance review, ESG risks and opportunities assessments including interactions with relevant stakeholders.Prior to joining NIIF, Rakhee worked with organizations like UNICEF & Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), National Environmental & Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), JM EnviroNet, Synergy Engineering & Environmental Solutions, Green Circle Consultants India Pvt. Ltd. and International Certification Services on different sectors like Infrastructure, Cement, Iron and Steel, Pharmaceutical industries, Power Plant, etc. She is a certified lead EMS (ISO 14001) auditor having conducted many Environment Management System (EMS) & Integrated management system (IMS) audits across diversified sectors. She was an EIA coordinator for Building and construction projects sector and Functional Area Expert for Air and Water Pollution Monitoring, Prevention and Control (AP and WP), approved by NABET, a government accreditation agency.Rakhee is a postgraduate in Environmental Sciences and M. Phil in Energy & Environment from Devi Ahilya University and has a Certificate in GRI Reporting from KPMG.

Raghavendra Babu is an Associate Vice President in the ESG team based in Delhi. He brings with him 12+ years of experience in ESG, Health & Safety Management. Prior to joining NIIF, he was working with Dupont Sustainable Solutions (Dss+) as Senior Consultant– ESG. Previously, he worked with companies such as Jindal Power Ltd., Sembcorp Energy, Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy and Phelan Energy group. Raghavendra completed his Graduation in 2009 from JNTU Kakinada, Diploma in Industrial Safety from AP State Technical Board in 2013 and NEBOSH IGC (UK).

Anant Agarwal is a Manager in NIIF’s ESG team, based in Delhi. He brings over six years of research and consulting experience in ESG and Sustainability space. He specialises in driving implementation of sustainability strategies, climate solutions, ESG management systems and disclosures/reporting frameworks. Prior to joining NIIF, Anant contributed to leading multinational organisations such as AECOM, ThomasLloyd Group, and HCL. In these roles, he worked on ensuring compliance with DFIs and MDBs frameworks, conducting E&S due diligence and ESIAs, particularly in the infrastructure sector. Anant is an alumnus of the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, and Hansraj College, University of Delhi.

Aditi is an Assistant Manager in NIIF’s ESG team, based in Mumbai. She has over 5 years of experience working in the ESG and public policy space. At NIIF, she contributes to the ESG integration across portfolio investments in the direct investments, along with post investment evaluation, monitoring of E&S risks and opportunities and ESG performance review. Prior to joining NIIF, Aditi worked with the Deals Advisory team at auctusESG, PwC India across industries spanning infrastructure, real estate, iron and steel, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, educational institutions, and QSR. During this period, she aided financial institutions such as SBI SWAMIH Fund, sovereign wealth funds such as Temasek, GIC and MDBs such as IFC and ADB, along with private equity players, to include ESG considerations in their decision making, through ESG diligences, and E&S impact assessments. Aditi has a Mechanical Engineer degree and a Master’s in Public Policy from The National Law School of India University, Bangalore, and has a Certificate in Evidence in Public Policy from the Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University.