Jaya Dhindaw
Executive Program Director, Sustainable Cities and Director, WRI India Ross Center

With over two decades of international experience, Jaya Dhindaw steers the Sustainable Cities program at WRI India, advancing initiatives at the intersection of urban development, mobility, climate resilience, and planning. She provides strategic direction to teams driving national and sub-national reforms, building knowledge systems and partnerships, and delivering place-based interventions that connect global expertise with local needs.
Before joining WRI India, Jaya led the Urban Planning and Infrastructure Development team at the Centre for Infrastructure, Sustainable Transport and Urban Planning (CISTUP), Indian Institute of Science. She previously spent nearly a decade with the City of Charlotte, USA — first with the transit system and later with the planning department — where she spearheaded strategic plans, compact growth strategies, economic development efforts, and the overhaul of development regulations. Her earlier roles span consulting and public sector work on urban design, environmental planning, and regional economic strategy, across geographies and institutional contexts.
A systems thinker, Jaya is committed to enabling cities craft structural, evidence-informed solutions to the challenges of urbanization and climate change. A widely published author, speaker, and podcaster, she is recognized for her work in advancing sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready urban transitions..
In addition to her role at WRI India, Jaya serves as Managing Associate Editor of the Journal of Sustainable Urbanization, Planning and Progress (Whioce Publishing), and is on the advisory board of Tech India Advocates.