Madhav Pai is a thinker-practitioner and institution builder with more than two decades of experience in urban transformation, climate action and equitable development. He has helped shape policy and practice in India and internationally through a systems-thinking approach to turn complex challenges into opportunities for people, nature and climate.  

As CEO of WRI India, Madhav leads an evidence-based knowledge organisation working across cities, transport, energy, food, land and water, and climate economics and finance. One of the founding members of WRI India, he joined the Institute in 2008 and has played a defining role in its growth from an early-stage initiative into a trusted organisation that partners with governments, businesses, civil society and the community to design, implement and scale solutions to India’s complex development challenges. 

Madhav’s commitment to public purpose was shaped by early experiences in Mumbai, where he saw playgrounds and shared public spaces give way to development. This shaped his understanding of how urban systems influence access, inclusion, and quality of life.  

Madhav graduated as a civil engineer from the University of Mumbai and holds a master’s degree in Transport Planning from the University of California, Berkeley. 

As Executive Director of WRI India Ross Center and earlier as Director of EMBARQ India, Madhav helped advance pioneering initiatives including the Indore BRT, the Mumbai Climate Action Plan, the Raahgiri campaign and the National Electric Bus Program. WRI India’s work has also informed national, state and city-level policy discussions on urban and regional planning, road safety, urban transport, transit-oriented development, electric mobility and clean air. 

He has invested deeply in institution-building, leadership development and organisational culture, with a focus on building strong teams and creating the conditions for people to pursue purpose with trust and autonomy. Across phases of organisational growth, he has helped strengthen and expand strategic coherence, programmatic ambition and capacity-building for long-term impact. 

Madhav is driven by a strong optimism about India’s opportunity to build inclusive and sustainable pathways of growth and is regularly invited to speak at national and international forums. He is a published author with research papers, articles and book contributions on urban transport, urban planning, resilience, clean air and related areas of expertise.  

Beyond work, Madhav maintains a strong connection to nature. A wildlife enthusiast and firm believer in public transport, he enjoys cycling, hiking, scuba diving, cooking and outdoor time with his family. He lives in Mumbai with his wife and daughter and is often seen cycling on the city’s streets.