About Us
Our Team
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- Our Team
Vaibhav Chowdhary
Director, ACPET
Mr. Vaibhav Chowdhary comes with more than 17 years of experience in the field of energy, climate, and sustainability. He served at various leadership positions across governments
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, consulting, philanthropies, and think tanks, in India and abroad. He is a visiting Professor of Practice at the department of sustainable energy and engineering (SEE) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur. In the past, Vaibhav worked as India Lead for an international philanthropy – Clean Air Fund (CAF), wherein he co-designed and delivered large scale air pollution mitigation programs in partnership with multiple stakeholders. Vaibhav also served as a Director at the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) in India, an empirical research center focused on energy and environment issues. Prior to UChicago EPIC, Vaibhav worked as the National Energy Adviser to the Government of UK – at a X-Whitehall team of Department for International Development (DFID), UK-Foreign Office and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) – wherein he managed multiple low carbon growth initiative in India and beyond. Vaibhav had also worked as a management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers and as an instrumentation engineer at Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) in the early days of his professional journey. Vaibhav is a Certified Energy Auditor with a bachelor’s in Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering. He holds an MBA (with honors) in Power Management from the National Power Training Institute (NPTI) and is an executive management professional from the Booth School of Business at UChicago, USA. Vaibhav holds multiple post graduate diplomas in areas of energy and sustainability, IPR, Cyber law, Financial Derivatives etc from premier institutes in India and abroad.
Dr. Anandajit Goswami
Research Lead, Senior Research Fellow
Dr. Anandajit Goswami is a Research Lead, Senior Research Fellow and has been a Director and Professor at School of Behavioural and Social Sciences (SBSS),
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Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies (MRIIRS). He obtained his PhD in Energy Policy from TERI School of Advanced Studies and Masters from JNU. He was a faculty at the TERI SAS and has led projects supported by UNCTAD, UKAID, ADB, World Bank, UNCTAD, UNECA, Atomic Energy Commission, Government Ministries, NITI Aayog, UNIDO, Copenhagen Consensus Centre, WWF and has advised state governments in state-level energy policy-making and transition. He has published 44 peer reviewed Scopus and Web of Science International Publications,8 fiction books, 3 reference books, 2 award-winning books, and has successfully supervised one PhD thesis. He has been leading his Philanthropic Foundation – “TOHRI Foundation" which has been chosen as one of the 20 best start-ups of 2023. He has been an Ambassador of the Anti- Tobacco campaign of NADA Foundation across states and has been recognized by All India Human Rights Council, Child Rights and You, WWF India. He has also contributed to climate action movements through his music and has recently published an anthology on climate justice called –“A Green Day" by Hachette India in April 2024 along with an epic magnum opus called – “Siddharth”.
Ms Anjali Goyal
Consultant
Ms. Anjali Goyal is a civil servant (IRAS 1986 batch, Civil Services Exam), retired as Member Finance, Railway Board and ex officio Secretary to Government of India in December 2023
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Ms. Anjali Goyal has been a pioneer in promoting energy efficient, low carbon transport projects. In 2006, based on Nicholas Stern’s famous book ‘The Economics of Climate Change -The Stern Review’ and several other Climate Change literature, she prepared the first official presentation on the impact of climate in India and how India could design, develop and reshape large Transport Infrastructure Projects to be Ultra -Low Carbon. This was personally seen by the then World Bank Director Energy. This led to World Bank requesting her to make a presentation as invitee speaker at World Energy and Transport Forum, Washington 2009. This presentation enabled funding of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor by World Bank as a low carbon project and ultimate financial close for this critical energy efficient transformative project. She sustained the momentum through a series of publications including “Ultra Low Carbon Mega Rail Projects (in Seminar), ‘A Case for High-Speed Rail in India’ (in The Asian Journal), ‘High Speed Rail in India -The importance of National Policies’ (in Economic and Political Weekly) and ‘Strategies for Making Railways a Sustainable Transport in India’ (in Transportation Sector in India and EU- Problems, Prospects and Opportunities for Development). Over 37 years of service she has held several key positions in Government of India, giving her wide exposure and experience in public finance, policy and technology. As Executive Director Finance and Budget, Ministry of Railways, she worked on Dedicated Freight Corridor projects including incorporation of DFCCIL and framing the Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association of India’s Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited in 2006. She was Government Director on Board of Indian Rail Finance Corporation and oversaw international and national borrowing decisions. She is an expert in Transport Planning, Financing and Capex monitoring & management of large projects. As Adviser (Project Appraisal)/NITI Aayog she has appraised more than 200 schemes and projects of the Government on a wide range of subjects including FAME, Agriculture, Electronics, Ultra Super Critical Power Projects, Hydel Projects etc. She also handled Aadhaar and prepared proof of concept report for using Aadhar in DBT schemes including LPG subsidy. As Divisional Railway Manager Jaipur Division of Indian Railways, besides rail operations she revived old wells and set up water recycling plants in a water scarce state of Rajasthan. As Principal Executive Director Accounts in Ministry of Railways she set up and implemented the Goods and Services Tax architecture for Railways in a record four months and digitized all financial transactions. As General Manager of India’s second largest locomotive manufacturing facility, Banaras Locomotive Works she oversaw end to end, the Govt of Mozambique contract with India, for export 7 locomotives to Mozambique Railways. The timely completion attracted a repeat order. As Member Finance, Railway Board, Ms Anjali Goyal spearheaded wide ranging transformation in project management using IT platforms to integrate physical progress and financial flow databases to create unique project monitoring tools. Railways finances turned around after several years under her leadership of the Finance and Accounts of Ministry of Railways. She conducted techno-financial appraisal of several key projects in rolling stock, signaling and mega rail corridors.
Dr Gaurav Bhatiani
Senior Fellow
Dr Gaurav Bhatiani is a senior leader, with three decades of experience in research, development, advisory and corporate roles in energy and environmental sectors
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His is currently a Senior Fellow at the Ashoka Centre for a People Centric Energy Transition, Ashoka University and a Visiting Professor at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. He is also mentoring three clean energy companies as a Senior Advisor. His work enables and empowers organizations to succeed through strategic business transformation, innovative strategies and technical advisory. Previously, he has worked at leading organizations, such as serving as the Director of Energy and Environment at the Research Triangle Institute and as Chief Operating Officer at IL&FS. Dr. Bhatiani has an extensive track record of managing large and interdisciplinary teams across energy, infrastructure and environmental sectors. His expertise includes energy policy, reform, and regulation; clean energy transitions – renewables, energy efficiency, and electric vehicles; infrastructure financing, investment analysis and climate change issues. His work includes a large number of research and technical assignments, advising governments, public utilities, and regulatory bodies on policy, regulation, and reform strategies. As a senior corporate executive in large private companies, he led economic and investment analysis, and financing of multi billion-dollar energy and infrastructure projects. He has contributed to over 100 articles, reports, papers, and books. He has also served various industry bodies and is a featured speaker at conferences and seminars. Dr. Bhatiani holds a Ph.D. with a specialization in energy economics and regulation from the University of Delhi. He was awarded the Gold Medal for securing top rank in the master’s program in business and economics. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (Roorkee).
Mr. Rakesh Kacker
Senior Consultant
Mr. Rakesh Kacker is a senior civil servant (IAS, Retd.) with over four decades of experience in governance, public administration, and regulatory policy. He retired as Secretary, Ministry of Food
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Processing Industries, Government of India in 2013, and has since held key leadership roles including Director of the India Habitat Centre and Independent Director on the Boards of PTC India, PTC Financial Services, Planetcast Media Services and ONGC Videsh. His expertise in regulatory frameworks is evidenced by his chairmanship and membership on high-level government committees for standard bidding in renewable energy, power and coal, as well as dispute resolution in the renewable energy sector.
Animesh Ghosh
Senior Research Fellow
Animesh Ghosh is a Senior Research Fellow at the Ashoka Centre for a People-centric Energy Transition (ACPET) IFRE, Ashoka University. His research focuses on energy transition
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financing, just transition, resource efficiency, behavioral nudging, and social tipping points Holding a master's degree in Development Practice from TISS Mumbai and a B.Tech from WBUT, Kolkata, Animesh served as a Prime Minister's Rural Development Fellow (2012-2015) and as an Officer on Special Duty at NIRDPR. He has collaborated with UN Women, UNICEF, the World Bank, and various government and non-governmental organizations on sustainable development projects. Currently pursuing a PhD in Circular Economy at IIT Kharagpur, Animesh's expertise spans energy transition, climate change mitigation, rural development, gender budget analysis, and innovation management. He has published in international journals and contributed to book chapters. Animesh's diverse experience across academia, government, and international organizations positions him as a valuable asset in clean energy transition and sustainable development research.
Dr Shubham Jain
Research Associate
Dr. Shubham Jain is working as a Research Associate at ACPET. He is an accomplished researcher with expertise in thermal engineering, solar thermal technologies, and thermal batteries
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He holds a PhD in Energy Science and Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. His doctoral research focused on developing a versatile thermal battery tailored for multi-temperature-based community-scale solar cooking applications. He also holds a Master of Engineering in Thermal Engineering from TIET, Patiala, where he designed and developed an innovative solar water desalination system for his master’s thesis. He has extensive experience in both experimental and computational thermal engineering. His expertise includes designing solar thermal systems, developing prototype solutions, and implementing them at a large scale. Dr. Jain has a strong research background, with publications in prestigious international journals and conferences. He holds several patents for innovative solar thermal technologies and has contributed to books in the field of solar energy. Driven by a passion for translating research into real-world applications, he remains committed to advancing sustainable energy solutions and technological innovation.
Dr Piya Srinivasan
Manager, Communications
Dr. Piya Srinivasan works as Communications Manager at ACPET. She has over a decade of experience in news media, research communication, social science
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research and program management. Before joining ACPE she served as India Commissioning Editor at 360info, a Melbourne-based global academic newswire, and as Assistant Professor at Manav Rachna International Institute for Research and Studies. She specialised in commissioning and translating complex, often technical, research-based insights into accessible content for a global readership, addressing some of society’s most pressing challenges. She has also worked as a Research Consultant and Program Associate with the Calcutta Research Group, a Communication Officer with Save the Children India, and a Copy Editor with Mint Lounge and Mail Today. Piya holds a PhD in Law and Governance from Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she was a SYLFF Fellow, and an MPhil in Social Sciences from CSSSC, Kolkata. Her areas of research include disaster risk governance, climate migration, law and literature, history and memory, juvenile justice and sound ecology. She has presented her research in national and international workshops and conferences. She is the editor of Living with the Weather: Climate Change, Ecology and Displacement in South Asia (Yoda Press 2023). Her articles, book reviews and film critiques have appeared in Al Jazeera, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, The Diplomat, Tatler Asia, Frontline, Seminar, Mint, Times of India, Mumbai Mirror and India Today.
Maria Tariq
Research Associate
Maria Tariq is a Research Associate at the Centre for People-centric Energy Transition (ACPET), working under
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the Critical Minerals and Circularity vertical. She holds a Master’s in Environmental Science and Engineering from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), South Korea, and a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from Jamia Millia Islamia, India. At ACPET, Maria’s work focuses on exploring circular economy pathways and sustainable value chains for critical minerals essential to India’s clean energy transition. Previously, she worked as a Research Assistant at the Hydroclimatology Lab, POSTECH, South Korea, where she applied machine learning and data-driven approaches to air pollution modeling. Her broader interests include resource efficiency, and data-driven climate solutions at the intersection of AI and sustainability.
Dr Aishwarya Ramachandran
Research Manager
Aishwarya is a Research Manager at the Ashoka Centre for a People-centric Energy Transition (ACPET) at Ashoka University. Her research at the centre focuses on the
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human health outcomes of net zero strategies, and she is interested in exploring issues around energy literacy. Aishwarya received her PhD from the University of British Columbia, Canada, and primarily does research pertaining to the history, philosophy, and sociology of science, and science education. Aishwarya has led projects pertaining to inter- and transdisciplinary environmental education, and has also worked as a consultant in Canada to develop recommendations for sport and health promotion.
Amrapali Tiwari
Research Associate
Amrapali Tiwari is an Environmental GIS and Remote Sensing Specialist with over five years of experience in spatial analysis, ecological modeling, and
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sustainable development research. She has contributed to impactful projects with organizations such as the Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED) and the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (ISRO).
Her expertise lies in applying geospatial techniques to address complex environmental and social challenges, such as landfill site suitability analysis, habitat suitability mapping, and ecological corridor modeling. She is passionate about integrating geospatial intelligence into evidence-based environmental and social decision-making frameworks. Amrapali holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, where her research focused on GIS-based habitat suitability and the development of a decision support system for ecological corridor modeling. She also holds an M.Sc. in Environment Management from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University and a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Botany from the University of Delhi. Beyond her professional pursuits, Amrapali enjoys dancing, exploring nature trails, and photography, activities that reflect her deep connection with nature and creativity.
Soumit Pandey
Junior Research Associate
Soumit Pandey is a Junior Research Associate at the Ashoka Centre for a People-Centric Energy Transition, Ashoka University. He has completed MSc. in Economic
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from TERI School of Advanced Studies. Soumit earned a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Economics from Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira, University of Calcutta. He brings a wealth of experience from his roles as a Research Intern at Aseries Envirotek India Pvt. Ltd. His expertise lies in economic analysis of quantitative and qualitative data (both, primary and secondary), with a strong technical skill set that includes proficiency in STATA, R programming, and advanced Excel.
C Surendran
Executive Assistant
Surendran has more than 35 years’ experience of working as Secretary, Senior Secretary and Executive Secretary. Before joining ACPET, he has worked
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with CIMMCO Birla Limited for 10 years and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) for 25 years. He has pursued B. Com from University of Calicut, Kerala. He has also passed the Typewriting (English), and Shorthand (English) examinations conducted by the Kerala Government Technical Examinations (KGTE), Kerala.
Anvesha S Adhikari
Junior Research Associate
Anvesha Adhikari is a Junior Research Associate at the Ashoka Centre for a People-centric Energy Transition (ACPET), Ashoka University. She holds an MSc in Economics
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with a specialization in Environment and Resource Economics from the TERI School of Advanced Studies and a BSc in Physics from Wilson College, University of Mumbai. At ACPET, she works on research projects related to India’s coal phase-down, electricity demand modeling, and pathways toward a just energy transition. Her interdisciplinary academic background enables her to approach energy and environmental challenges with both technical and economic insight. Anvesha has strong skills in econometric analysis and data modeling, with proficiency in STATA, R, C++, and advanced Excel, and a working knowledge of Python. Prior to joining ACPET, she interned at the Raman Kant Munjal Foundation, where she strengthened her research and analytical capabilities. She is passionate about sustainability and aims to contribute to data-driven, inclusive policy making in the energy sector.
Navya
Junior Research Associate
Navya is a Junior Research Associate at the Ashoka Centre for a People-centric Energy Transition at Ashoka University. Her work focuses on the intersection
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of energy, economy, and environment, with a particular emphasis on India's clean energy transition. She is involved in long-term energy system modelling and scenario analysis to support data-driven, people-centric policy design. She holds a B.Tech in Information Technology from Inderprastha Engineering College, Ghaziabad, and brings prior experience in web development, database management, and programming. Certified in cybersecurity and equipped with a strong technical foundation, Navya leverages her computational skills to develop integrated models that reflect the macro-level dynamics of India’s energy system. Her work aims to bridge technology and policy, contributing to inclusive, sustainable, and evidence-based energy transition planning.
Saptarshi Poddar
Junior Research Associate
Saptarshi Poddar is a Junior Research Associate at the Ashoka University Centre for a People-centric Energy Transition (ACPET). He works on modeling
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long-term decarbonization pathways for India using tools like LEAP to support data-driven and policy-relevant energy transition planning. He brings a multidisciplinary background in economics, and data science, with prior experience at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), where he contributed to national-level energy system modeling. Saptarshi specializes in time series forecasting and saturation modeling and is proficient in Python for data analysis, visualization, and machine learning. His skill set also includes geospatial analytics and certifications in cloud platforms like AWS and Microsoft Azure. In addition to his work in energy and data, Saptarshi is an independent filmmaker and cinematographer. He has worked with several brands and production houses, combining storytelling with a strong visual sensibility. This creative lens enhances his ability to communicate complex research in engaging and accessible ways, making data not just informative, but impactful.
Ms Bipashna Sharma
Communications Associate
Bipashna Sharma is the Communications Associate ACPET, amplifying the Centre’s work on just energy transitions and net-zero pathways across digital platforms, podcasts, events, CMS, newsletters, and educational content.
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She blends sustainability expertise with storytelling to engage stakeholders. Holding an MBA in Sustainability Management from TERI SAS and a BA in Geography from the University of Delhi, she interned with TVS Motor on renewable energy adoption and Vedanta Aluminium on ESG and sustainable supply chains. As Communications Lead for World’s Youth for Climate Justice (WYCJ) Indian Front, co-founder of SATVA (Sustainable Fashion Society at TERI SAS), and creator of Instagram’s 'SustainaBee,' she bridges policy, practice, and people-centric narratives for climate action.
Ms Aakansha Singh
Research Associate
Aakansha Singh is a Monitoring & Evaluation professional with over 6 years of experience in health, education, and livelihoods programs across
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Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. She has worked with government institutions and civil society organizations, leading data-driven initiatives to strengthen education systems, support women’s collectives, and improve access to health and social welfare schemes. Skilled in program design, digital tools, and stakeholder engagement, she has contributed to notable government programs including Aspirational District and Block initiatives, and currently supports the Jharkhand Education Project Council. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Care Economics, Financing & Policy from the Public Health Foundation of India and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Delhi.
Upasna Ranjan
Co-Lead, Critical Mineral and Circular Economy vertical
Upasna Ranjan holds an Integrated M.Tech in Energy Engineering and brings over eight years of experience in the energy and climate change domain.
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Her professional journey spans reputed institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), and the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), where she has contributed extensively to projects on energy modeling, decarbonization pathways, and climate policy.
At CSTEP, she has led several strategic initiatives, including development of low-carbon roadmaps, net-zero pathways for different sectors, GHG inventory, Critical minerals for Clean energy transition and state-level climate action plans, employing models such as SAFARI (System Dynamics model).
Earlier, at NIAS and IISc, she worked on power sector modeling and environmental data analysis, evaluating optimal electricity mixes, solar performance under varied environmental conditions, and emissions impacts.
Through her multidisciplinary expertise in energy systems analysis, stakeholder engagement, and climate mitigation planning, Upasna continues to contribute to evidence-based policymaking and the advancement of India’s transition toward a net-zero and sustainable future.
Jolinson Richi Antony Dass
AI/ML Consultant
Jolinson Richie is an AI/ML Consultant and Data Analytics professional with experience in artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud reliability, and data-driven application development.
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Prior to his work in AI and cloud engineering, he worked as a Data Science Intern at the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, where he developed deep learning models for climate forecasting and environmental data analysis using CNN and LSTM architectures. He later worked at Searce as a Cloud Reliability Engineer, contributing to cloud operations, infrastructure optimisation, monitoring, and containerised deployments across AWS and GCP environments. His expertise includes Python, machine learning, deep learning, predictive analytics, semantic search systems, and data visualisation. Jolinson has also published an IEEE research paper on PCB Defect Detection using YOLOv5 and Image Subtraction, focusing on computer vision–based defect analysis and intelligent automation systems. Alongside his technical work, he is passionate about building impactful AI solutions that combine analytical thinking, innovation, and practical problem-solving.
Interns
Arushi Malhotra Intern
Arushi Malhotra is currently pursuing a degree in Economics and Finance at Ashoka University. She is deeply passionate about environmental studies and is committed ...
to building a career in sustainability. Over the past year, she served as the Environment Minister of her university, leading various green initiatives and awareness campaigns. Arushi has engaged with a range of economic models and their real-world applications through numerous analytical essays. Additionally, she channels her problem-solving skills through active involvement in her university’s consulting club. She also enjoys nature walks, trying out new cafes, reading about dinosaurs and spending time with people she is close with.
Sagnik Ghosh Intern
Sagnik is studying Psychology and Environmental Studies at Ashoka University. He has interests in the natural world, and is learning more about the green-transition ...
He has created a documentary on the Bandhwari landfill detailing its multiple impacts, and has interviewed local grassroots ecologists regarding their experiences. He also enjoys bird-watching and eating different cuisines.
Varusha Khare Intern
Varusha is pursuing a degree in Economics and Finance from Ashoka University. She is passionate about education equity and gender justice and has been actively ...
involved in efforts to create meaningful, long-term change. At Ashoka, she leads Raah, an independent anti-sexual harassment initiative that formulates inclusive, restorative policies for survivors of sexual assault and harassment. Alongside her work at Raah, Varusha has pursued internships in areas like education, banking, finance, and business communication. She aims to translate her academic interests and hands-on experience into a long-term commitment to creating systemic and social change. Outside of her academic work, Varusha enjoys watching 2000s Bollywood films, reading fiction, listening to pop music, going to the gym, and indulging in a leisurely nap at the Ashoka Lawns on a sunny afternoon.
Jacob Mathew Intern
Jacob is currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science and Entrepreneurship with a minor in Sociology and Anthropology from Ashoka University. With a keen interest in ...
the social sector. Jacob aspires to work in social impact consulting, where he hopes to combine analytical problem-solving with a deep understanding of human-centered development. A creative thinker with a passion for innovation, Jacob became especially drawn to the energy sector through a case competition, where he recognized the immense potential for impact within India’s evolving energy landscape. He believes that the interdisciplinary nature of his education allows him to approach complex challenges with a unique lens—bridging technology, business, and social insight. Beyond academics and professional interests, Jacob enjoys traveling, seeking out new experiences, and connecting with people from all walks of life. He finds joy in hearing stories, sharing laughter, and of course, unwinding by the beach while watching beautiful sunsets.