Core Team
The Core Team manages and implements various day-to-day activities of the Solar Decathlon India challenge. The team consists of members from IIHS, AEEE, and individual consultants and volunteers who are led by the Director of Solar Decathlon India.
Amanda Thounaojam
Programme Manager
Amanda Thounaojam is an architect with a Master’s in Building Energy Performance and is working as a Technical Associate at IIHS. She is the Programme Manager for Solar Decathlon India and oversees outreach with institutions, development of content for the learning modules, technical review of submissions, and coordination with the division jury. She also takes up other roles such as webinar moderator, graphic designer, and lead event manager from time to time.
Gaurav Vakil
Manager – Partnerships
Gaurav has completed his M.Tech in Building Energy Performance from CEPT University, and has a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering. He is a Research Consultant at the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy. At Solar Decathlon India, he manages all partnerships and maintains connections with the Solar Decathlon India ecosystem, including project partners, jury and reviewers, alumni, and the Technical Resource Group, among others. He played an important role in bringing industry leaders together for the Solar Decathlon India internship programme. His research work includes setting benchmarks for the energy performance of building types in the challenge.
Jaydeep Bhadra
Strategic Advisor
Jaydeep is doing his PhD at Loughborough University, UK, where his research focuses on personal comfort systems, and thermal and sleep comfort. He provides strategic advice and often provides useful counterpoints during internal decision-making. He is specifically involved in developing and managing the rules and guidelines related to the challenge and coordinates the publication of the Competition Guide. He also provides technical review of the submission and assists the team in research and documentation. Jaydeep is involved in conducting Solar Decathlon India’s research with respect to transforming the pedagogy to educate and build capacity for climate action.
Lakshmi Keshav Kumar
Lead – Technology Platforms
Lakshmi works with the Digital Blended Learning function at IIHS. As part of Solar Decathlon India, she manages the Learning Management System and provides technology support. She oversees the Production of the Self Learning Modules on building science provided to the participants. Lakshmi is also passionate about teaching for climate action and is involved in Solar Decathlon India’s research with respect to transforming the pedagogy to educate and build capacity for climate action.
Pooja Suresh Hollannavar
Communications Manager
Pooja is a communications consultant at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements. She is an architect and architectural historian by education and a writer-editor-curator by choice. She has worked in India and the UK to execute multiple architectural exhibitions and publications and believes in creative, insightful, and cross-dimensional use of archives, exhibitions, and publications for effective communication of the built environment. She is the Communications Manager at Solar Decathlon India and works on planning and executing communication strategies across various platforms. All her free time is spent exploring the world through books and travel.
Prasad Vaidya
Director
Prasad Vaidya is a Senior Advisor to the Indian Institute for Human Settlements and the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy. Previously, he served as a Professor and Area Chair for Building Energy Performance at CEPT University. As the Director of Solar Decathlon India, he provides leadership, inspiration, and oversight to the Core Team in managing the challenge. He oversees the progress of the challenge and provides advice to the team on the way forward. He leads outreach activities with institutions and faculty for participation and industry leaders for collaboration with the Solar Decathlon India ecosystem.
Ritabrata Sen
Lead – Partnerships
Ritabrata is an Engineer with PGDM in Marketing. He has been working in the building and construction material industry since 2010. He is an IGBC Accredited Green Building Professional. In his professional career, Ritabrata has also been engaged in policy development and implementation support with various government departments to facilitate an ecosystem that enables the built environment to adopt sustainable design, construction, operation and maintenance practices. Ritabrata is currently working as Lead – Partnerships (Real Estate & Industry) at the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE). At Solar Decathlon India (SDI), he is involved in reaching out to developers and complementary industries to forge long-term relationships. He also supports in enhancing the marketing communication of SDI.
Suyashi Srivastva
Manager – Partnerships
Suyashi has completed her M.Tech in Building Energy Performance from CEPT University and has a Bachelor’s in Architecture. She is a Research Consultant at the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy. At Solar Decathlon India she works on industry and real estate partnerships. She manages and maintains connections with the Solar Decathlon India ecosystem, including project partners, industry partners, alumni, and the Technical Resource Group, among others. She brings together industry leaders for the Solar Decathlon India internship programme and Building Industry Innovation Exhibit. Her research work includes setting benchmarks for the energy performance of building types in the challenge.
Vismaya Paralkar
Consultant
Vismaya is an architect with M. Tech in Building Energy Performance from CEPT University. She has experience in managing business development and capacity building, conducting webinars, consultant hiring, reporting impact data (Energy, Water, Carbon emissions, and Finance), green certification of projects, and project coordination. She is a certified LEED Green Associate and GRIHA Certified Professional. She has worked on the Energy Audit of the IIHS campus building and provided efficient customised recommendations on operational energy savings of the building. At Solar Decathlon India she has been involved in developing learning modules and reviewing reports and is spearheading the review process of team submissions and Technical Resource Group (TRG) coordination.
Yashima Jain
Advisor
Yashima Jain is an architect and has completed her M.Tech in Building Energy Performance from CEPT University, Ahmedabad. At Solar Decathlon India, she is involved in the planning, management, and moderation of the webinars, technical reviews of team submissions, and managing the website. She provides support in graphic design and developing the communications strategy. Yashima also offers strategic guidance to the team in almost all aspects of the challenge for sound decision-making.
