Akshara Gopinath

• Built understanding regarding the general E&S issues related to business in developing countries by working on over 20 Environment and Social Due Diligence in compliance with international standards, such as IFC Performance Standards and WB EHS Guidelines across various sectors in India.
• Involved in the development of Environment and Social Management Systems, in compliance with local regulations and international standards such as IFC Performance standards for FIs and power sector. 
• Experience in undertaking Environment and Social Due Diligence audits across various sectors including, but not limited to:
  • Finance; 
  • Manufacturing;
  • Renewable power - wind, solar; 
  • Infrastructure;
  • Power. 
• Extensive experience of working on projects in compliance with applicable Indian regulations, as well as international standards such as IFC Performance Standards, WB EHS Guidelines (General and sector specific) and Equator Principles. 
• Worked with international offices to provide support to ESIAs undertaken in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal and aware of local regulations in these areas.

• Involved in the development of proposals against World Bank, IFC, KfW, CDC, ADB and OeEB requirements;
• Developed understanding of the general E&S issues associated with businesses in developing countries and mitigation measures for the same;
• Assisted in the development of Environment and Social Management Systems and DDs for a power company and an FI in India. 

• Involved in many international projects from various industries including water treatment, chemical processing etc. 
• Preparing Environmental Impact Assessments, Cumulative Impact Assessments, Strategic Impact Assessment and Social Impact Assessment for projects as per Equator Principles, IFC and WHO Organisation regulations.
• Setting up Social Management Plans and Frameworks for all projects that adhere to the WHO, IFC and General EHS Guidelines.  
• Work in diverse teams of professionals towards tight deadlines and on various projects simultaneously
• Preparation of Stakeholder Engagement Plans to aid in the Social Management Frameworks.

• Elected Social Secretary for Belly Dance Society.
  
• Organised an event as Social Secretary that won the Best Inter-Society Collaboration Award from the University of Nottingham, Student's Union.
  
• Successfully negotiated and organised various paid performances on and off campus.
  
• Reviewed past performance of the society and introduced creative themes for future events that eventually resulted in a 15% increase in member participation for the academic year.
  

• Held responsibility for producing the chapter on waste management to be included in a white paper on The Development of Regenerative Campuses in India, which has now been published.
• Examined various waste management processes that could be implemented within building structures in third world nations, that is feasible in budget and technology constraints.
• Experience critical analysis of findings and producing innovative solutions that could be implemented on campuses that is economically and practically feasible.
• Addressing challenges together with potential solutions during discussions to match the project criteria.

• Analysed working of the small-scale industrial water treatment plant on-site.  
• Familiarised myself with the environmental practices, legislation, limits and processes in an engineering organisation.
• Collated information regarding design, working and environmental impact of the plant.

Modules -   Bio-refinery Engineering, Energy System, Distributed and Renewable Energy System, Nuclear Fuel Cycle, Sustainable Development and Industry 

Knowledge/Experience

• Awarded first class in dissertation study titled "The Impact of Organics on the Enhanced Actinide Removal Process". This study involved submission of an initial proposal along with a complete risk assessment and a final dissertation report which studied impact of organic compounds on the nuclear effluent treatment process and its relevance to the industry.
• Producing various environmental performance and review reports as a part of my Sustainable Development and Industry study, which helped gain experience in the production of a Life Cycle Analysis using C Calc of a fizzy drink production plant.
  
• Energy System study provided the opportunity to gain skills in specialised software STAR to design a Brayton-Rankine Combined Cycle Heat & Power Plant integrated with solar and wind power system.

Modules : Advanced Transport Phenomena, Air Pollution, Environmental Management, Hazardous Waste Management, Water Treatment, Hydrology & Hydrogeology, Plant Design, Project Management

Knowledge/Experience

• Awarded The University of Nottingham Bircumshaw Prize for having shown the most academic progress in the Engineering faculty for the academic year.
• Design study project based on a Sulphuric Acid Replacement plant design accompanied by PID, PFD, GA drawings, economic analysis, mass & energy balances, environmental and sustainability report.
• Plant design project based on the designing a waste water treatment process to enable recycling 45% of the up-stream processed water, not only meet environmental sulphur limit but also to reduce economic cost.
• Introductory Geology project required guiding a team of 6 to complete a phase 1 desk study followed by phase 2 risk and impact assessment to obtain a first class grade.
• Awarded a high second class for the environmental field course study which involved the analysis of soil samples, basic phase 1 desk study for a site and finally presenting an environmental impact assessment based on the results obtained.

During the quarterly meeting, was awarded the Exemplary Performance Award due to my contribution to the various projects and collaboration with diverse teams on challenging and demanding projects. 

Received the Bircumshaw Prize from the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Nottingham, which was given to the student in the department adjudged to have made the most academic progress in the preceding year.

The award included a certificate and a prize of £100 and was presented by the Head of the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering.