Sustainable Finance Conference 2026
Date – Saturday, 22 August 2026
Venue – Taj MG Road, Sivanchetti Gardens, Bengaluru 560001
As India pursues its high-growth development amid mounting climate risks, resource constraints, and social inequalities, sustainable finance has become a pivotal lever for securing the country’s long‑term economic resilience and prosperity. Mobilizing capital at scale towards low‑carbon infrastructure, energy transition, climate adaptation, and inclusive growth is now essential to safeguarding macroeconomic stability, protecting vulnerable communities, and preserving natural ecosystems. In this context, investors are increasingly recognizing the need to build a robust sustainable finance ecosystem in India, one that can channel private capital into high‑impact solutions, price and manage climate‑related risks, and align financial flows with the country’s sustainability commitments and net‑zero ambitions.
Conceived and led by CFA Society India, the inaugural edition of the CFA Society India Sustainable Finance Conference 2026 is designed to catalyze a rich, forward‑looking dialogue on how India’s financial ecosystem can more decisively support these sustainability ambitions. Hosted by the CFA Society India’s Bangalore chapter as its flagship forum on sustainable finance, the conference will bring together leading industry practitioners, investors, policymakers, and thought leaders to examine the evolving contours of sustainable finance in India.
Through high‑impact keynote addresses, practitioner‑led panels, and interactive discussions, the conference will explore key themes such as impact investing, carbon markets, energy transition pathways, climate‑related financial risks and opportunities, and the pivotal role of private capital in closing India’s sustainable financing gap. Participants will gain practical insights into emerging instruments, regulatory and policy developments, and best practices being adapted to the Indian context. The inaugural edition aspires to become a must‑attend annual platform for the sustainable investing community, one that not only showcases real‑world case studies and lessons learned but also sparks collaboration and innovation to accelerate the transition towards a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable financial system in India.
Event Details:
Time: 09:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Venue: Taj MG Road, Sivanchetti Gardens, Bengaluru 560001
Date: Saturday, 22 August 2026
Registration Details:
- CFA Society India Members: INR 500
(Refundable on attendance)
- CFA® Program Registered Candidates:
– Early Bird: INR 1000
– Standard: INR 1500
- Non-Member:
– Early Bird: INR 2000
– Standard: INR 2500

Alexander Hogeveen Rutter
Research Manager, Third Derivative and Angel Investor
Alexander Hogeveen Rutter is the Electricity Sector Lead for Third Derivative, the world largest ClimateTech accelerator. He leads the investment theses on Power sector-related topics, as well as research & diligence of startups. Third Derivative connects startups, investors and corporate in climate innovation.
Alexander is also an angel investor and author of a newsletter on Climatetech Startups (https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/climatetech-startups-in-india-7058013250294038528/). He has worked for International Solar Alliance, IFC and BCG on strategy and financing on RE projects, especially wind, solar and storage.
Alexander holds an MBA from ISB and a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from the University of Waterloo

Amrut Joshi
Founder and Senior Partner, Gamechanger Law Advisors
Amrut Joshi founded GameChanger Law Advisors in 2011. He has been recognized as an expert corporate and commercial lawyer, sought after by leading startups, venture capital firms, consulting firms, impact investors, angel investors, and sportspersons across the world.
Over a period of 23 years, Amrut has built deep expertise in advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, venture financings and impact investments, while also building sector-specific expertise in the deeptech, healthcare, sports and social enterprises sectors. Amrut’s articles on various legal issues have been published both nationally and internationally. He has also been invited to share his insights on reputed television channels and digital platforms. In addition, he regularly conducts workshops aimed at educating and nurturing the Indian startup ecosystem.
Amrut has been a consultant for the Stanford Seed Transformation Program since 2020, a mentor at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) since 2018, and at NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore’s incubator (since 2022). He completed an Impact Investment Fellowship with AVPN in 2021. Since January 2023, he has also served as a Member of the Steering Committee of the South Asia Chapter of the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE).
Amrut read law at the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, from where he graduated with a B.A. LLB (Hons.) degree in 2003.

Bharti Chhatre Krishnan, CFA
Founder, Fine Train
Bharti Krishnan, CFA, is the founder of FineTrain, where she works with climate startups on raising capital. Her work sits at the intersection of finance and climate tech across energy, water, and materials. She spends most of her time meeting founders and helping them think through capital decisions.

Dr. Ram Babu
Chief Sustainability Officer, Greenko Group
Dr. Ram Babu, presently Advisor and Chief Sustainability Officer of Greenko Group and Chairman of Forum for Sustainable Enterprises, has over 40 years of experience in consulting, research, and teaching in governance, sustainability, and climate change. Ram has experience working in India, China, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, South Africa, and Kenya. Ram has led the sustainability practice of PwC in Asia, Carbon Asset Development and Transactions of CantorCo2e in Asia, and led the Global Carbon Asset Development strategy at CantorCo2e.
He has been advising the Government of India and state governments in streamlining the environmental clearance process and has served on a number of Government of India-initiated committees and task forces to evolve standards and norms for environmental sustainability of industrial development. He has advised the Indian Judiciary in much environmental litigation.
Dr. Ram Babu has advised many reputed businesses in India involving Corporate Sustainability or Social Responsibility, Strategic and Regional Environmental Assessments, Clean Development Mechanism, Design of flexible environmental regulatory instruments, and Life Cycle Assessment.
He has chaired and participated in panel discussions organized by several national and international agencies. He has authored over 100 research papers, guided 7 doctoral and 40 master’s theses in the areas including systems science, environmental management, and resource economics.

Kushagra Nandan
Renewable Energy Entrepreneur, Investor, Clean Energy Platform Builder
Kushagra Nandan is a renewable energy entrepreneur and investor with over two decades of experience building and scaling clean energy platforms across solar, bioenergy, and emerging energy sectors. He has a strong track record of developing large-scale infrastructure businesses, mobilizing institutional capital, and delivering successful exits for investors and founders. He is the Co-Founder of LNK Energy, where he is building an integrated clean energy platform spanning solar manufacturing and green fuels, focused on long-term value creation through vertical integration and cost leadership.
Kushagra is also the Co-Founder, Chairman, and Managing Director of REnergy Dynamics (RED), an integrated renewable energy platform focused on bioenergy, solar infrastructure, and large-scale project development.
Previously, he co-founded SunSource Energy in 2010, scaling it into one of India’s leading distributed solar companies and achieving a successful strategic exit.
In addition to his operating roles, Kushagra is an active investor and mentor in high-growth ventures
through The Nandan Group. His investment portfolio spans climate tech, industrial innovation, and technology-led platforms, including companies such as Kubek AI, Chakr Innovation, Solar Ladder, Eupheus Learning, and Airial Advanced Manufacturing. He has also been associated with early-stage and growth investments in ventures such as SunSource Energy, S3 Energy, and Nexcepts.
Earlier in his career, Kushagra worked with global energy leaders including SunPower, GE, and Conti Group. He has played an active role in shaping India’s clean energy ecosystem, having chaired the C&I Committee at the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) and currently serving as Co-Chair of the UP State Development Council at ASSOCHAM.
Kushagra has been invited to participate in global dialogues at the World Economic Forum (WEF), Davos, and is a regular speaker on clean energy transition, manufacturing, and climate-linked infrastructure.
His recognitions include BW Businessworld 40 Under 40, Global Young Entrepreneur Excellence Award (WRETC), UP Ratan (2018), Amity Corporate Excellence Award, and Entrepreneur of the Year – DLA Awards (2019).
He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from Manipal Institute of Technology and a Master’s in Energy Engineering from the University of Massachusetts and has been conferred an Honorary PhD for his contributions to the renewable energy sector.

Labanya Prakash Jena, CFA
Director, Climate and Sustainability Initiative (CSI)
Director, Climate and Sustainability Initiative (CSI) and Visiting Senior Fellow at London School of Economics – Labanya has 20+ years of experience in financial services, green finance, and international development. He is a Director at the Climate and Sustainability Initiative (CSI). Additionally, he serves as a Visiting Senior Fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He earlier worked with the CEEW, IEEFA, CPI, Commonwealth Secretariat, UNDP, WRI, and Asian Development Bank (ADB). Labanya is an avid writer on climate and green finance. He co-authored a book, “Net-Zero Trio: Synchronizing Technology, Business, and Policy for Green Transition,” published by Bloomsbury.

Mohan Kumar Prabhu, CFA
Director, Investment Consulting AON, Consulting Private Limited

Mohan Kumar Prabhu, CFA
Director, Investment Consulting AON, Consulting Private Limited
Mohan Kumar Prabhu, CFA, FRM, currently serves as the Director, Investment Consulting at Aon Consulting India and heads their Investment Consulting Strategic Client Delivery Solutions business. As part of this role, he leads a team of investment professionals, investment product specialists and full stack technology professionals, responsible for creating market leading digital solutions for portfolio analytics, performance reporting and performance attribution, ESG analytics and reporting, climate modelling and fund manager research for Aon’s clients globally. He has over 20+ years’ experience in the financial services space with expertise in investment consulting, ESG analytics, investment banking, corporate finance, business research, corporate governance research and GCC/offshore delivery management. Prior to Aon Consulting India, he has worked with InGovern Research Services, DSP Merrill Mynch, Bank of America and WNS Global Services in various financial services roles. Mohan holds an MBA in Finance from Welingkar Institute of Management, India and an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Manipal Institute of Technology, India. He is also a CFA charter holder and FRM charter holder and is an active volunteer member for the CFA Society of India. He sits on CFA Society’s Research and Advocacy committee and co-chairs the CFA Society’s Sustainability Working Group. He was awarded the CFA Institute Emerging Leader Award in 2024 for his volunteering contributions. He is also a Certified Ethics Trainer with CFA Institute India. He has taken several training sessions on ESG Investing, Ethics in Investing and several other investment topics as a guest faculty for post graduate students at management institutes

Rajesh Sehgal, CFA
Chairperson, CFA Society India
Rajesh is the Managing Partner at Equanimity Investments. He is a board member of the CFA Society India. He is a long-term investor with tremendous breadth and depth of experience, managing early stage investments, private equity and public equity funds for over two decades. He has on-the-ground experience across emerging market countries, analysing various industries and businesses spanning different stages of their lifecycle. He has been active in the Indian startup ecosystem since 2007 when he made his first startup investment. Since then, he has been a prolific angel investor, having invested in over 20 startups. Rajesh is a Wharton alumnus in addition to being an XLRI Management graduate specializing in finance and marketing. He is a CFA charter holder and has earned a Post Graduate diploma in Securities Law from Mumbai University.

Sanjay Naveen Gowan
Senior Director of Investments & Credit Portfolio Management at Impact Investment Exchange (IIX)

Sanjay Naveen Gowan
Senior Director of Investments & Credit Portfolio Management at Impact Investment Exchange (IIX)
Sanjay Naveen Gowan is a business leader with over 30 years of inter-disciplinary experience spanning development finance, microfinance, and impact investing.
He currently serves as the Senior Director of Investments & Credit Portfolio Management at Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) in Singapore. In this role, he leads investment strategies and manages credit portfolios across South-East Asia and South Asia, focusing on gender lens lending, financial inclusion, and sustainability. Notably, he recently spearheaded the successful launch of the US$30 million Women’s Livelihood Bond, listed on the SGX.
Prior to joining IIX, he was the CEO of Kanika Investment Limited (a Dalmia Bharat Limited Group NBFC), where he established the startup NBFC and pioneered integrated digital lending and supply-chain finance programs. He also spent over two decades at the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), gaining extensive experience in MSME Development & Finance and Microfinance. Additionally, he has worked on multiple projects with the World Bank, KfW, and the Asian Development Bank, and has served on the boards of NBFC-MFIs, State Financial Corporations, and large SMEs.

Shreenivas Kunte, CFA, Ph.D
Director, CFA Society India, Senior Lead Investment Research and AI, HDFC AMC

Shreenivas Kunte, CFA, Ph.D
Director, CFA Society India, Senior Lead Investment Research and AI, HDFC AMC
Shreenivas works as Senior Lead, Investment Research and AI, at HDFC AMC. In this role, Shreenivas leads HDFC AMC’s work in the application of AI and deep tech in investment decision making. Shreenivas has over 25 years of experience in various investment roles in India, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Before joining HDFC AMC, Shreenivas served as the Director of Content at CFA Institute and worked as the Trading Strategist at Citi in the Japanese and Indian markets. He also speaks the Japanese language. As a CFA Society India volunteer, Shreenivas has worked closely with members and regulators, conducting workshops on AI and machine learning applications using Python. He has led research initiatives and authored articles on a wide range of investing topics. Shreenivas is passionate about spreading financial awareness and emphasizing the urgency of environmental conservation. He is also a long-distance marathoner and an avid fitness enthusiast. Shreenivas was awarded the CFA Charter in 2003. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree from IIT Bombay and a Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement (CIPM) from the CFA Institute.
Sindhu Krishna
Partner and Head of Sustainability, Aon
Sindhu Krishna is a leading sustainable investment practitioner with nearly two decades of experience across institutional investing, responsible investment strategy and sustainability governance. She leads the UK Sustainability proposition at Aon, advising pension funds, insurers and other institutional investors on integrating sustainability considerations into investment strategy, risk management, stewardship and portfolio implementation. She is recognised for helping boards and investment committees translate strategic ambition into practical action.
Prior to Aon, Sindhu was Chief Sustainable Investment Officer at Standard Life, where she led the firm’s sustainable investment strategy across approximately £300 billion of assets. She managed a multidisciplinary team covering climate risk, nature and biodiversity, stewardship and ESG integration, and led the development of several market-leading initiatives, including the Climate Aware Index Series and Sustainable Private Markets programme.
Sindhu previously held investment roles at Zurich Insurance Group. She is a CFA Charterholder, holds an MBA from Warwick Business School, and has chaired a number of industry bodies focused on advancing sustainable investment practices.

Srini Viswanathan
Founder & CEO, AltEons Energy
Building decarbonization solutions for Corporate & Industrial Customers with Energy Transition Strategies and Round-the-Clock (RTC) Renewables
https://www.linkedin.com/in/srini-viswanathan-energytransitionandrenewables/
Srini Viswanathan is the Founder & CEO of AltEons Energy, a platform delivering round-the-clock (RTC) renewable energy — combining wind, solar, and storage with a smart energy analytics layer — to help corporates and industrials decarbonize with firm, dispatchable clean power. AltEons has secured 210 MW of wind and solar capacity in Maharashtra, with an active development pipeline targeting an additional 1.2 GW across India.
Srini brings over 21 years of experience across the renewable energy value chain, spanning development, finance, operations, and business transformation. He began his career at Sol Systems in Washington DC and SunEdison, before serving as CEO of Vibrant Energy, where he led the turnaround of a stressed business into one of India’s leading corporate renewables platforms, scaling it to a 1.5 GW+ portfolio backed by Macquarie Capital’s Green Investment Group. Along the way, he built multiple hybrid projects and built long-standing customer relationships with marquee brands.
At AltEons, Srini is focused on making firm, round-the-clock renewable power economically viable at scale — a shift he believes will unlock the next wave of energy transition opportunities, including green hydrogen, green ammonia, and green methanol.
Srini holds a degree from the University of Mumbai and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

Vidhu Shekhar, CFA
Adjunct Professor & Independent Consultant, Former Country Head - India, CFA Institute

Vidhu Shekhar, CFA
Adjunct Professor & Independent Consultant, Former Country Head - India, CFA Institute
Vidhu Shekhar is the former Country Head, India for CFA Institute. Mr. Shekhar had a career spanning more than three decades in India and abroad, including the National Stock Exchange of India, IDBI Capital Markets and as Managing Director of E*Trade Systems (India) Pvt Ltd. He is a CFA charter holder and founding member of CFA Society India. He was also the Vice President and member of the Board of CFA Society India for several years.
Mr. Shekhar has an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and a degree in Physics from Delhi University. He has contributed extensively to policy advocacy and research throughout his career and has been a member of several industry and regulatory committees during his career. He is currently a visiting professor at several business schools and teaches courses related to corporate governance, sustainability and ethics.
Event Registration
9:00 AM to 9:30 AM
Welcome Address and Opening Remarks
9:30 AM to 9:45 AM
Keynote Session: India's Sustainable Finance Landscape: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities
9:45 AM to 10:15 AM
Plenary Session: Global Perspectives on Sustainable Finance - Lessons for India
10:15 AM to 11:00 AM

Vidhu Shekhar, CFA
Adjunct Professor & Independent Consultant, Former Country Head - India, CFA Institute
Networking Tea Break
11:00 AM to 11:15 AM
Plenary Session: Understanding India's Carbon Markets
11:15 AM to 12:00 PM

Shreenivas Kunte, CFA, Ph.D
Director, CFA Society India, Senior Lead Investment Research and AI, HDFC AMC
Panel Discussion: Inside the Fundraising Journey - Founder Perspectives
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Lunch and Networking Break
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Panel Discussion: Mobilizing and Deploying Private Capital - Insights from Private Markets Investors
2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Panel Discussion: Sustainable Investing in Practice - Perspectives from the Deal Table
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Sanjay Naveen Gowan
Senior Director of Investments & Credit Portfolio Management at Impact Investment Exchange (IIX)

Mohan Kumar Prabhu, CFA
Director, Investment Consulting AON, Consulting Private Limited
Networking Tea Break
4:00 PM to 4:15 PM
Workshop: Incorporating Climate Related Risks in Corporate Investment Decisions
4:15 PM to 5:15 PM
Closing Remarks
5:15 PM to 5:30 PM
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CFA Institute members can claim PL credit by providing their CFA Institute ID number when registering. |
Global Passport Accredited Programme Allows members of participating CFA societies to attend each other's society events at the local member price |








Global Passport Accredited Programme Allows members of participating CFA societies to attend each other's society events at the local member price