George C Varughese is an SEI Affiliated Researcher with SEI Headquarters. He is an independent strategic advisor to multilateral agencies, industry associations, and other institutions.

He was recently President of Development Alternatives and responsible for building up a trans-disciplinary group of professionals capable of addressing various facets of environment and sustainable development. He co-ordinated or actively participated in most activities undertaken by the group.

He also conceptualized and spearheaded several of major initiatives, including the Community Led Environment Action Network, Corporate Environment and Social Responsibility, Development Alternatives Information Network and the Poorest Areas Civil Society Programmes. He has worked in the construction industry and academia.

He is a member of several international and national governing bodies, advisory panels and working groups on environment and development. Some of these include the Green Economy Coalition, Climate Action Network – South Asia, World Bank Community Development Carbon Fund, the Global Water Partnership, UNEP Global Environment Outlook, IUCN, NITI Aayog and various ministries of the Government of India.

He has also spearheaded several NGO initiatives, including the Credibility Alliance nationally and the post-2015 Independent Research Forum). He is a Member of the Board of Studies at the School of Planning and Architecture Delhi and Ambedkar University Delhi. He has travelled extensively within India and overseas.

He has a master’s degree with distinction in urban and regional planning from the School of Planning and Architecture Delhi and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the National Institute of Technology Rourkela.