Prem Surya is a Program Research Analyst – Restoration Finance with the Food, Land and Water team at WRI India. His work focuses on supporting landscape restoration initiatives through research, enterprise engagement, and financing mechanisms that promote sustainable and resilient ecosystems.

Before joining WRI India, Prem worked with the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), contributing to projects on climate finance and industrial decarbonization. His work included supporting India’s National Adaptation Plan, forecasting loss and damage finance needs, and assessing emission reduction opportunities through increased scrap steel usage. He has also worked with the Johns Hopkins Program (JHPIEGO), the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), and Environics, conducting field-based research on climate impacts, disaster risk, adaptation, and resilience.

Prem holds a master’s degree in Development Studies from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and a master’s degree in Engineering. He has also completed a semester-long course on the Food-Energy-Water (FEW) Nexus from Cornell University.

Outside of work, Prem enjoys exploring new places with his camera, long-distance running, and cycling. He is also rediscovering his love for music as an amateur violinist.