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Dr. P. V. Sundareshwar (P.V.) is a Director of Sustainability Standards and Compliance at Indigo. He comes to Indigo with almost 30 years of experience in environmental and climate issues in academia, the federal government, and consulting for the private sector. He has guided the development of environmental policies internationally, has contributed to national dialogue on carbon sequestration, and understands how sustainability information can impact enterprise value for businesses. He is adept at identifying a suite of material ESG issues across diverse sectors, developing standards and metrics, designing projects to promote triple-bottom-line (planet, people, and profits), and auditing compliance to regulatory requirements. He has deployed his scientific expertise and technological innovation in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues for sustainable international development and to improve R&D operations in a large organization. During his tenure at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), he held multiple positions including concurrently serving as Senior Science Policy Advisor, the Bureau Environmental Officer (BEO), and the Climate Integration Lead, and as a Climate Change Advisor. As the BEO and Climate Integration Lead, he addressed ESG compliance and climate risks for over 1000 projects totaling approximately $500 million. He also oversaw the implementation of the Agency’s Scientific Research Policy, the Scientific Integrity Policy, and the Public Access Plan, and Chaired the Agency’s first Research and Development (R&D) Council that is helping improve R&D operations in the Agency. He represented the Agency in several R&D-related Subcommittees of the National Science and Technology Council, was appointed to the Scientific Integrity Task Force established by the White House, and was a member of the Executive Board of the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer. Prior to joining USAID, he concurrently served as the State Carbon Scientist, Associate Professor, and Director of the Biogeochemistry Core Facility at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, where he conducted cutting-edge research and engaged the community on environmental issues such as climate change and sustainable agriculture. As a member of a National Coal Council study group, he contributed to National policy and dialogue on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and the development of low-carbon technologies, and was the lead consultant for the World Bank mission to help identify risk mitigation strategies for Kenya’s Agriculture sector. He helped address environmental issues in India and Chile that culminated in the creation of national programs and legislation. Dr. Sundareshwar is the recipient of several honors and awards including being named a ‘Revolutionary Mind’ by the SEED magazine and a Congressional Medal from the Senate of the Republic of Chile. He has a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of South Carolina and an MS in Life Sciences from the University of Bombay, India. He is an avid wildlife enthusiast and enjoys birdwatching and photography. He lives in Maryland with his wife and is the proud father of twins.

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