Advisors

Nick Robbins is Head of the Climate Change Centre of Excellence at HSBC in London. The goal of the Centre is to analyse the strategic implications of climate change for investors and the Group as a whole. After joining HSBC, Nick has co-authored research on carbon risks for coal miners (Coal and Carbon, June 2012), fixed income financing for environmental infrastructure (Bonds & climate change: state of the market, May 2012), long-term energy prospects (Energy in 2050, March 2011), the investment opportunities in low-carbon growth through to 2020 (Sizing the climate economy, September 2010), and the links between climate change and fiscal stimulus (Building a green recovery, May 2009). He manages a team in Bangalore, which has published pioneering research on the implications of resource constraints including, Sizing India’s climate economy (January 2011).

Beyond HSBC, Nick is a member of GE’s Corporate Citizenship Panel, as well as the Guardian newspaper’s Sustainable Business panel. He stepped down as co-chair of the UNEP Finance Initiative’s Climate Change Working Group in 2012. Nick has more than 20 year experience in the policy, business and investment implications of sustainable development and corporate responsibility.

Before joining HSBC, Nick was head of SRI funds at Henderson Global Investors, where he launched the world’s first carbon audit of an investment fund and co-designed the Industries of the Future investment strategy.

He has also worked for the International Institute for Environment and Development, the Business Council for Sustainable Development, the European Commission and the Economist Intelligence Unit.

Nick has authored and edited a broad spectrum of books and reports, ranging from his 1990 volume Managing the Environment: the Greening of European Business (translated asL’imperatif ecologique, Calmann-Levy, 1992) through his 2006 history, The Corporation that Changed the World: How the East India Company Shaped the Modern Multinational (2006) to his 2008 Sustainable Investing: the Art of Long-Term Performance (co-edited with Cary Krosinsky).

Dennis Pamlin is an entrepreneur and founder of 21st Century Frontiers. He works with companies, governments and NGOs as a strategic economic, technology and innovation advisor. His background is in engineering, industrial economy and marketing. Pamlin worked as Global Policy Advisor for WWF from 1999 to 2009. During his tenure, Pamlin initiated WWFs Trade and Investment Programme work in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and the link to key emerging regions such as the GCC. He also led the work with ICT companies as solution providers. Pamlin is currently an independent consultant as well as Director for the Low Carbon Leaders Project under the UN Global Compact, is a Senior Associate at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and a visiting research fellow at the Research Center of Journalism and Social Development at Renmin University. Current work includes work to establish a global risk indicator, a global initiative to promote public procurement supporting transformative solutions, exploring the impact of our “digital twins” and develop tools that allow public procurement to support transformative resource efficient solutions. Pamlin is leading work to develop tools for companies, organisations and cities to measure and report their positive impacts, focus on climate, water and poverty, but other areas are also under development. Pamlin has written more than 50 reports and 300 articles. He is also a popular keynote speaker who has made presentation at many of major conferences and events around the world. His work has been featured in most major news outlets around the world, from BBC, CNN, FT, Foreign Policy and The Economist to China Daily, The Times of India, al Jazeera and NHK.

Dr. Kaushik has wide experience of working in the Indian public and private sector, and also exposed to working in multicultural working environment in Europe, South Asia and South East Asia. Dr. Kaushik has a decent record of publications in international and national journals. Additionally, he has been a prolific commentator and writer on variety of contemporary issues. Some of the major research projects independently handled in the past includes- Research project on “Bankruptcy: Laws and Status of SMEs”, for the Federation of Indian Small and Micro-Enterprises. This was part of the larger project on fair competition and competitiveness of SMEs funded by the SIDBI to FISME.

• Major contribution made so far was preparing a position paper on “Barriers to Inter-State Trade & Commerce: The Case of Road Transport”, for the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution. The focus of work was on Part XIII- Article 301-307 of the Indian Constitution.
• “IT for the Masses”, funded by Friedrich NaumannStiftung fur die Freiheit (FNF).This project was primarily an impact evaluation study of three pilot projects established for delivering e-services in rural India, each one was initiated by (1) government (2) voluntary sector and (3) public-private initiative.
• Impact evaluation study based on secondary information on “IPR Regime in India under TRIPs Agreement” for making a presentation before the Joint Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Patents. The Indian Crop Protection Association and Indian Drug Manufacturers Association funded this project.
• Research project on “Non-tariff Measures affecting Indian Exports”, for the Commonwealth Secretariat (UK). It covered four sectors, namely pharmaceuticals, light engineering goods, marine products and leather goods. The study included the impact evaluation of non-tariff measures on Indian exports in selected markets.

Key Publications:

• Kaushik P. D. & Rao Purnachandra (2010) monograph- “Trading Obstacles for Indian SMEs”, Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies & Friedrich NaumannStiftung fur die Freiheit.
• Kaushik P. D & Vasudeva P.K. (2008) “Intellectual Capital Contribution by States of India”, Friedrich NaumannStiftung, Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies & Academic Foundation, New Delhi.
• Kaushik P D &Kaur Simrit (2008) “Economic Freedom of the States in India-2008”, Academic Foundation, New Delhi.
• Kaushik P. D. (2007) “Women Rights: Access to Justice”, Bookwell Publications, New Delhi.
• Kaushik P.D. (2006) “TRIPS Compulsions: India’s Negotiating Agenda”, in B. Debroy & D. Chakrabortyeds., Academic Foundation & RGICS Publication, Academic Foundation, New Delhi.

Shawahiq Siddiqui works on policy and regulatory issues on environment, energy and climate change. He worked as a principle researcher for drafting the Renewable Energy Law for the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India and is widely quoted in national and international literature for his critical appraisal of the National Solar Mission.

He is currently engaged in developing a model national institutional framework for setting up a National Bureau of Water Use Efficiency in the Ministry of Water Resources.

Shawahiq is an advisor and consultant with BRIEF India Pvt. Limited.