At Cool Conclave 2.0, held in Indore on August 2nd, Women in ISHRAE hosted a landmark session titled “Women Leading the Way to a Low-Carbon Future.”
The all-women panel discussion, “Driving Decarbonisation Through Inclusive Leadership: The Role of Women Shaping a Low-Carbon Built Environment,” featured distinguished speakers:
- Anjali Sen, DGM, Sustainability, BPTP Ltd
- Kshama Jain, MD, Kehems Technologies
- Poorva Keskar, Director, VKe Environmental
- Shruti C. Purohit, MD, Nine Square Architects
- Sujal Shah, Director, Newage Fire Fighting Co. Ltd
The session was moderated by Nisha Anil Nair, Associate Director, VKA Powermaster & National Chair, Women in ISHRAE, and chaired by Ms. Nivedita Jadhav, Operations Catalyst, Aeon Consultants.
This thought-provoking discussion explored how inclusive leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, and design innovation are driving India’s transition toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient built environment. The message was clear: when women lead, the built environment transforms.
Some of the key questions and takeaways from the session included:
- How do women leaders influence India’s low-carbon transition?
Panelists emphasized that women often bring collaborative, community-centric perspectives that balance efficiency with empathy,a crucial blend for sustainability leadership. - How can engineers, architects, and developers work together toward decarbonisation?
The panel highlighted the need for breaking silos through earlystage design collaboration and shared accountability frameworks. - What challenges persist for women professionals in the built environment?
Speakers agreed that visibility, mentorship, and equitable representation at decision-making levels remain critical to real change. - What message would you give to young women entering this industry?
“Step up, speak out, and stay curious,” said one panelist a sentiment echoed by all.