Prof. Vinod Kumar Jain

Vice Chancellor, Tezpur University

Prof. Vinod Kumar Jain, a seasoned academician and former Vice Chancellor of Doon University, took charge as the Vice Chancellor of Tezpur University on 22nd February 2018. An alumnus of Agra University (B.Sc.) and Aligarh Muslim University (M.Sc.), he earned his D.Phil. from the University of Sussex, UK, for his research on electrostatic wave instabilities in beam-plasma systems.

With over 36 years of academic and research experience, Prof. Jain has served as a Scientist (Pool Officer) at IIT Delhi and as a faculty member at School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) for over two decades, mentoring numerous postgraduate and doctoral scholars. His research spans plasma physics and environmental sciences, with 118 publications to his credit.

Prof. Jain has contributed extensively to academic governance, serving on expert panels of the UGC, CSIR, and various state public service commissions. He is recognised for his commitment to teaching, research, and institutional development.

Dr. Malavika Chauhan

Ecologist & Rural Development Strategist

Dr. Malavika Chauhan is a seasoned ecologist and development professional with a Ph.D. in Limnology from JNU, New Delhi. She retired as Head of the Rural Development and Civil Society country portfolios at the Tata Trusts. Prior to this, she founded and served as Executive Director of the Himmotthan Society, building one of the largest rural development programs in the Central and Western Himalayas, currently spanning over 3000 villages.

Her diverse career includes roles at WWF-India, Wetlands International, and the Institute of Economic Growth. She is a Fulbright Scholar and Global Environmental Facility Fellow, and has consulted with the World Bank, ADB, and WWF-International.

Currently based in Dehradun, she works independently on sustainability, wetland restoration, Himalayan livelihoods, and organisational development. A frequent contributor to academic literature, she also served on several POSH Committees and has led major post-disaster livelihood recovery efforts across the Himalayan region.

Dr. Vishal Singh

Translational Ecologist & Environmental Scientist

Dr. Vishal Singh holds a doctorate in Forestry and is a translational ecologist dedicated to applying science beyond theory to serve the practical needs of natural resource managers and policymakers. With over 16 years of experience across government, non-government, and academic sectors, he leads the thematic areas of Urbanisation and Water Security and Climate Change Adaptation at CEDAR. His core research focuses on knowledge empowerment and Citizen Science, fostering participatory approaches in the Himalayan region.

Dr. Singh’s work emphasises interdisciplinary problem-solving in complex, data-deficit environments, with a strong focus on the interactions between development, forests, water systems, and human well-being. He brings strategic project management skills and a deep understanding of the Himalayan socio-political and environmental landscape.

An advocate for evidence-based policy and inclusive governance, he has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals. Outside academia, he is a passionate coach and sports enthusiast who values teamwork and resilience.

Dr. Rajesh Thadani

Forest Ecologist & Development Leader

Dr. Rajesh Thadani is a respected forest ecologist and development sector leader with a Ph.D. in Forest Ecology and Physiology from the Yale School of the Environment. His academic work focuses on the mid-elevation forest ecosystems of the Himalayas, and he has authored over 30 publications on Himalayan and temperate forest dynamics, regeneration, and ecosystem services.

Dr. Thadani is the Founder of the Centre for Ecology Development and Research (CEDAR), a leading research and advocacy organization promoting sustainable mountain development. He also chairs Himmotthan and NEIDA, two prominent organizations working across 2,000 villages in the Indian Himalayas on rural development, water security, and livelihoods.

In addition, he serves as Chair of Kumaun Grameen Udyog, which promotes crafts and agricultural produce from the central Himalayas, and is President of a college based in Mumbai. His career reflects a rare blend of ecological expertise, grassroots engagement, and institutional leadership.

Colonel Prakash Tewari (Retd)

Environmental Strategist & Leadership Mentor

Colonel Prakash Tewari (Retd) is a distinguished environmental strategist and former army officer whose career spans defence, public policy, corporate leadership, and global sustainability. As Director Policy (Ecology) at the Integrated HQ of Ministry of Defence, he played a pivotal role in drafting India’s National Environment Policy and spearheaded landmark projects on biodiversity conservation, afforestation, watershed management, and species protection.

In the corporate world, Col. Tewari held leadership roles at Tata Power, Jindal Steel & Power, and DLF Ltd., managing environmental and social risk mitigation for large infrastructure projects across Asia, Africa, Australia and the Middle East. He collaborated with global institutions such as the World Bank, ADB, IFC, Paribas Bank who funded these Projects and also contributing internationally recognised case studies.

He has served on Board and Vice President of the Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction (USA), and continues to advise government and private organisations. A UNESCO laureate, author, and leadership coach, he is deeply committed to sustainable, inclusive development.

He is presently Member, Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) , Infrastructure 1 and Coastal Regulations Zone (Infra 1 and CRZ) in Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC).