// Curriculum Vitae
Nandan Sharalaya
Programme Lead & Head of Public Affairs · Climate Catalyst
↗ nandansharalaya.com
Read my latest writings ↗
0+Years
$0M+Funding mobilised
0+Young leaders
0+Essays published
I have spent 12 years across consulting, government, impact investing and global nonprofits — working at the point where policy, capital and sustainability meet. I have mobilised over $20M in funding, managed teams of 2–10 people, and advised businesses, philanthropists, policymakers and civil society organisations on complex challenges. I am a strong facilitator — I have built coalitions across sectors, led multi-stakeholder dialogues, and helped groups reach consensus on hard problems. I am good at building networks — connecting governments, funders, industry and civil society, and getting them to move together. I have lived and worked in India, the UK, Germany and Nigeria.
Professional Experience
Climate Catalyst
Oct 2023 – present
Programme Lead & Head of Public Affairs
Remote · Manchester, UK
- Lead Climate Catalyst's programs focused on industrial decarbonisation in India, setting strategy across policy engagement, industry mobilisation, research, and grantmaking.
- Built and scaled the India Green Steel Network to 70 organisations, aligning producers, policymakers, CSOs, and investors around low-carbon steel pathways.
- Established and led core workstreams on green public procurement, scrap and ship recycling, and green hydrogen–based steelmaking. Conceptualised new programs on chemicals.
- Successfully fundraised and built partnerships across international philanthropies including Sequoia Climate Foundation, SED Fund, Giving Green, and ClimateWorks Foundation.
- Strengthened government and international engagement, leading public affairs working with Indian ministries and linking India's transition to Climate Catalyst's global programmes.
- Promoted from Senior Manager to Programme Lead in under 18 months.
India Climate Collaborative
Feb – Oct 2023
Senior Manager
Remote
- Led India Climate Leaders (ICL), a strategic initiative to grow India's climate philanthropy ecosystem and mobilise $50–100M for climate action by 2030.
- Designed and delivered a week-long convening at the Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Centre with 20+ philanthropists, investors and experts.
- Helped conceptualise the HCL ClimaForce Fund, spearheaded by Roshni Nadar. Co-developed a climate solutions bank with over 100 solutions and a prioritisation framework for philanthropic funding.
- Oversaw strategy, recruitment, donor engagement and partnerships with the Rockefeller Foundation, Climate Leadership Initiative and Camber Collective.
Omidyar Network India
Aug 2020 – Jan 2023
Investment Associate
Remote · Bangalore
- Co-led an annual $3.5M Cities and Innovation portfolio, managing equity and grant investments in early-stage startups, civic-tech ventures, and nonprofits.
- Led the collaborative grants portfolio, deploying $10M across 40+ organisations — including COVID relief reaching 1M+ people, India's largest nonprofit capacity-building funds, and conceptualised and funded the Migration Policy Action Network.
- Co-led a $5M Nonprofit and Migration portfolio, expanding into under-served regions such as Northeast and Central India.
- Co-created the Equal Opportunities Lab to tackle inequities affecting women, the elderly, the disabled, and spatially excluded communities.
- Served as Chief of Staff to the Investment Partner, overseeing M&E, hiring, communications, and risk management.
- Only staff member recognised as top performer for two consecutive years.
FTI Consulting
Aug 2018 – Nov 2019
Senior Consultant
Mumbai, India
- Led policy engagement for Virgin Hyperloop One's $10B Mumbai–Pune corridor, working with the Prime Minister's Office and Government of Maharashtra.
- Advised Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Mastercard, Tetra Pak and DP World on public policy strategies.
- Conducted a first-of-its-kind field study on mica supply chains in Jharkhand and Bihar for the Responsible Mica Initiative (members include L'Oréal, Estée Lauder, The Body Shop, Coty).
- Launched FTI India's sustainability consulting practice through a partnership with an affiliate firm, and produced ESG thought leadership including the inaugural Asia Disclosure Index.
Federal Foreign Office, Germany · AvH Foundation
Aug 2016 – Jan 2018
German Chancellor Fellow
Berlin · WHU Visiting Fellow
- Researched South Asia's urbanisation and smart cities with a focus on climate resilience, gender and digital governance. Published in The Mint, The Diplomat, The Conversation and other outlets.
- Presented research findings at the European Commission in Brussels and delivered talks across European universities.
- Advised German startups on engaging with India's urban development and smart city initiatives in Coimbatore, Bhubaneswar and Kochi.
- Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Industrial Organisation, WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management, Germany's leading business school, under the guidance of Prof. Juergen Weigand.
Parliament of India · Office of Dr. Rajeev Gowda
Jul 2014 – Feb 2016
Chief of Staff
New Delhi, India
- Led the parliamentary office of Prof. Rajeev Gowda, a national legislator, and managed legislative research for over 100+ Members of Parliament in both houses.
- Drafted 200+ parliamentary questions, private member bills, special mentions and committee briefs.
- Taught legislative policymaking to 100+ young professionals across courses at four leading universities in India, including MIT School of Government and Jindal University.
- Co-authored Crony Capitalism and the Indian Political System (Palgrave Macmillan), widely cited in academic and policy literature.
PRS Legislative Research
Jun 2012 – Sep 2013
LAMP Fellow — Legislative Assistant to a Member of Parliament
New Delhi, India
- One of 50 fellows selected from over 5,000 applicants (<1%) for India's most prestigious legislative fellowship.
- Led Dr. Ajoy Kumar's parliamentary office, improving performance by 18% through drafting speeches, questions and committee briefs.
- Designed and fundraised for a district initiative to regenerate 200 water bodies, recognised by Chatham House and lauded by Bill Gates.
Fellowships & Short-term Projects
Fellowships
Jun – Aug 2016
Hansen Leadership Institute
Social Entrepreneurship Fellow · University of San Diego
One of 20 fellows selected worldwide from 1,800 applicants. Designed the strategy and business plan for Q-Zenobia (now Migport), connecting refugees to work in Turkey.
Nov 2016 – Dec 2017
WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management
Visiting Fellow · Institute of Industrial Organisation
Visiting Fellow under the guidance of Prof. Juergen Weigand at WHU, Germany's leading business school. Researched urban climate resilience, smart cities and digital governance in India and Europe.
Short-term Projects
Feb – Aug 2020
Purpose Climate Lab
Consultant · Green Mobility
Set up and ran Purpose Climate Lab's first green-mobility campaign in Bengaluru — 6 million social impressions in 5 months and secured the city government's commitment to expand the non-motorised transport network budget.
Mar 2016 – Jul 2018
Decent Neta Labs
Co-founder
Built a new media platform simplifying political discourse in India, including a live tracker of 500+ MPs. YouTube channel reached 3,000+ subscribers in under 3 months.
Thought Leadership
Publications
Published 30+ essays in international outlets including The Conversation, HuffPost, U.S. News, The Diplomat, Mint and Scroll. Work on climate finance, industrial decarbonisation, urban innovation, and political economy has been cited by the Asian Development Bank, C40 Cities, Climate Group and others.
Speaking & Teaching
Teaches and facilitates courses on public policy, political communication, negotiation, and impact investing at India School of Business (ISB), MIT School of Government, Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC), O.P. Jindal Global University, and partner universities in Europe and the US. Trained 500+ young leaders in policy and civic engagement. Regularly guests and hosts podcasts on climate, policy, and philanthropy.
Education
SOAS, University of London
MA International Studies & Diplomacy
2013 – 2014
Studied international economics and climate policy at SOAS — one of the first times I seriously engaged with climate before it became mainstream. Trained in research methods and media management by a BBC journalist. Moderated a panel at the UN ILO headquarters in Geneva.
Symbiosis International University
BA Media & Communication
2009 – 2012
Went in wanting to be a journalist. Came out fascinated by public policy and how governments actually work — that curiosity led me straight to Parliament.
- Nominated for Dean's Prize for Student of the Year (2012)
- National Bronze Medal, University of Dayton — sustainable leadership essay
- Best Wildlife Documentary, Central Indian Highlands Film Festival
- India Today Distinguished Alumnus (2014)
Languages
Fluent
🇬🇧
English
🇮🇳
Hindi
🇮🇳
Kannada
Intermediate
🇮🇳
Tulu
🇮🇳
Tamil
🇳🇬
Pidgin
Beginner
🇩🇪
German
🇫🇷
French
🌍
Lived and worked across 4 continents — Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.
Skills & Interests
Climate Policy
Industrial Decarbonisation
Impact Investing
Philanthropy & Grantmaking
Public Affairs & Advocacy
Stakeholder Engagement & Coalition Building
ESG & Sustainability
Migration Policy
Urban Governance
Political Communication
Facilitation
Design Thinking
Strategy
AI & Tech