VIBHA DHAWAN

Dr. Vibha Dhawan is the Director General of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the Chancellor of the TERI School of Advanced Studies (TERI SAS). A distinguished academician and researcher, she is a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India, and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Consul General South Asia Partnership, Michigan State University. Driven by a passion for advancing scientific knowledge, Dr. Dhawan has authored six books and over 70 publications, significantly contributing to research and innovation.

Recognized for her thought leadership, Dr. Dhawan has made notable contributions to both research and policy development at national and international levels. She is a member of key national committees under the Department of Biotechnology, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council, and Biotech Consortium India. She also serves on the Networks Strategy Council of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, a global initiative for the United Nations, and was the Co-Chair of the T20 Task Force 4 on "Refueling Growth: Clean Energy and Green Transitions."

Under her visionary leadership, TERI established the National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping in collaboration with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. She also played a crucial role in founding the DBT-TERI Centre on Advanced Biofuels, fostering cutting-edge research in sustainable energy solutions.

Dr. Dhawan's extensive career includes serving as Coordinator of the Asia Pacific Consortium on Agriculture Biotechnology (APCoAB), Advisor to the Director General of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), and Deputy Director for Research Partnerships and Coordination with the Borlaug Institute for South Asia. She has been a board member of several prestigious institutions, including Jawaharlal Nehru University, Ambedkar University, Agriliv Research Foundation, and the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI).

One of her significant achievements includes establishing the Micropropagation Technology Park at TERI, a successful initiative in plant biotechnology. She has also contributed to the development of e-learning content for postgraduate biotechnology programs under the University Grants Commission.

Dr. Dhawan's recent research focuses on biofuels, further cementing her commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions. Her work continues to inspire and shape transformative change in science, policy, and education. Dr Dhawan has joined the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Energy Technology Frontiers for the 2025-2026 term as a council member.