Aparna Ramanathan has joined WRI India as a Senior Program Associate – Industrial Decarbonization with the Climate, Economics, and Finance Program. Based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, she supports industrial decarbonization efforts for MSMEs at the state level by working with subnational government to design low-carbon roadmap for the food processing sector.

Before joining WRI India, Aparna worked in consulting and sustainability roles, supporting MSMEs and industrial ecosystems in their transition towards low-carbon growth. Her work included policy advocacy, energy efficiency studies, and the implementation of government schemes, along with designing awareness and skill-building workshops on decarbonization. She has also worked closely with government stakeholders and officials to advance MSME-focused sustainability initiatives. With a strong foundation in research, project management, and stakeholder engagement, she brings a multi-disciplinary approach to advancing climate action and industrial resilience.

Academically, Aparna holds a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Physics from the University of Madras and is currently pursuing a Global MBA from the University of Western Australia. She has also completed an Advanced Business Management certificate from IIM Kozhikode and a Project Management certificate from Google.

In her free time, Aparna enjoys stargazing, traveling, exploring adventure activities, and listening to music.