Reji Kumar Pillai

Do not let what you can not do; interfere with what you can do.

My Profile

Reji is an internationally renowned expert in the electric power sector with over three decades of experience in the electricity industry in diverse functions across the entire value chain and across continents. He is spearheading a mission to leverage technology to transform the electric grid in India and light every home at affordable cost through sustainable developmental models. Reji played the pivotal role in formulation of the Smart Grid Vision & Roadmap for India that has been recently adopted by the Government of India. He worked with various stakeholders to bring about consensus in finalizing the smart grid roadmap. Reji is presently advocating for a “Right to Electricity Act” in India that will ensure life line supply of electricity (8-12 hours) to all households in the country. He has been unanimously re-elected the President of India Smart Grid Forum, a public – private partnership initiative of the Government of India for accelerated development of smart grid technologies in the Indian power sector.As an entrepreneur, Reji has built successful enterprises in India and overseas and exited them. Presently, he is the Founder and Managing Director of Magnetar Venture, an India focused clean tech fund to foster innovation in clean technologies with a vision to build globally successful enterprises out of India in the emerging cleantech revolution.Reji has studied Engineering, Finance, Management and Law; has worked with NTPC and IBM and been a senior consultant with ADB, World Bank and USAID. A recognized thought leader in smart grid technologies, Reji is a popular key-note speaker at international symposiums and conferences on smart grids and cleantech. He has also contributed to several articles and books.