Leena Pishe Thomas - South Asia Women in Energy (Sawie)

Leena has over two decades of experience in the field of International Business, Technology and Project Management in the Climate Change Mitigation, Energy, Environment, Transport, Biotech and ICT sectors working with various US, European and Asia-Pac organizations.

Leena established Global Business Inroads (GBI) in September 2009 to assist and serve Government, NGOs, Financial Institutions, and Private Sector organizations with their technology, sustainable energy, environment project development, market access and international business needs. In June 2017, GBI launched the www.globaltechinterface.com online platform – a global market place for technology showcase and collaboration. This innovation platform supports start-ups and technology companies connect with technology scouters globally.

Leena has worked as Country Program Manager, India and City Director, Delhi, for the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) of the William J. Clinton Foundation from Jan 2007 to July 2009. Ms. Thomas has actively developed and implemented projects in Building Energy Efficiency, Roof-Top Solar PV, Solar Thermal, Outdoor Lighting Energy Efficiency, Carbon Financing. Prior to this, Leena had her International Business and Project Management Consultancy (1999 – 2006) and did a variety of assignments for USAID, Alliance to Save Energy, USA, Louis Berger Group, USA, Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, USA. Leena’s 5-year assignment with the USAID/Alliance to Save Energy involved setting up their presence in India, development and implementation of energy efficiency projects for the municipal sector in India and Sri Lanka.

Leena has completed her B.A. (Honors) in History and Economics from the prestigious Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi and followed that up with business management from ICFAI, Hyderabad. Ms. Thomas has successfully completed the technical Certified Energy Manager’s Course from Atlanta, USA, funded by the US Government and attended the Eurochambres Academy in Brussels to do a course on doing business with Europe, funded by European Commission.

Leena was selected by the US State Department in April 2011 for the US Government’s International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) as a leader in the Clean Energy and Climate Change category and between 2010 – 2014 appointed by the EU Commission’s EBTC project to strategize and develop a program focused to transferring EU clean technologies into the Indian market. Leena was presented the Award for Woman Achiever of the Year 2015 by ISBR, Bangalore.