Chandran is the Founder and CEO of what he believes is a "first". The Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT) is a non-profit organization based in Asia that is focused on the inter-relationship of Asian society and values with those of the rest of the world. At the heart of GIFT's mission is to influence policy makers and business leaders and open the lines of communication on issues relating to globalization, the role of business in society, governance and ethics, leadership development, and the development of Asia. Chandran was Chairman of ERM in the Asia Pacific until March 2004. He established the company as Asia's leader in environmental consulting, developing it from one small office of 10 people in Hong Kong in 1991 to a strength of 500 in 12 countries when he left in 2004. Clients included many Fortune 500 companies, multilateral agencies such as the World Bank, the UNEP and the ADB, as well as governments. During his leadership the business in Asia remained consistently profitable, producing some of the best results within ERM's international network.

For more than a decade, Chandran has strongly advocated a more sustainable approach to development in Asia, and has helped governments and corporations instill these principles into their key decision-making process. He continues to advise the Hong Kong Government, devising a new approach that gives the public a bigger role in key policy-making decisions - a first for Asia.

He has worked and traveled extensively; corporations seek his advice on how to meet the challenges of doing business in Asia and of globalization, on investment geo-politics, leadership development, ethics, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility. He has addressed many of these issues at forums around the world, notably at speaking engagements in London, New York, Sydney, and all the major Asian capitals. In addition to his work with GIFT, Chandran has maintained his interest in business. For example, he is involved in providing strategic management advice and coaching to the European CEO of a global company with a focus on achieving growth targets and bringing about organizational change.

Chandran is a visiting scholar at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's School of Business, running a course, "Leading in Asia for the Future", as part of the HKUST MBA program. He advises the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum, the World Wildlife Fund in Asia, and is an advisor to the Jane Goodall Institute. He is a fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Directors. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is a non-executive director of the consulting firm, Global Philanthropic.

A keen sportsman, Chandran managed the Hong Kong hockey team for seven years, taking it to the 2002 Asian Games in South Korea. He plays the saxophone and used to head a band in Africa. He has lived and worked in Asia, Europe and Africa.

» Back to Speaker Page