Page 118 - NYAA GAHA 30th Anniversary "Service Beyond Gold"

Ramanathan Thurairajoo

Executive Director, Enviro Peace

Associate Director, Community Friends Ltd
Researcher, Queensland Decarbonisation Hub
NYAA Gold Award Holder (2004 Cohort)

Ramanathan Thurairajoo is a visionary leader whose Chapter), empowering 300 youth from 27 countries
career bridges environmental sustainability, conflict- to co-create tech-driven climate solutions; speaking
sensitive climate adaptation, and community at the Earth Day Summit 2024, where he highlighted
resilience. With over two decades of service at the youth roles in intergenerational climate justice; and
intersection of environment and peace, he epitomises moderating sessions at the upcoming ACUNS 2025
the GAHA ethos of ‘Service Beyond Gold.’ UN Meeting in Nairobi, contributing research on
environmental justice in the UNFCCC’s Just Transition
As Founder and Executive Director of Enviro Peace process.
(since 2013), Ramanathan has led numerous
grassroots and international projects on sustainability, Ramanathan’s dedication has been recognised
youth engagement, and peacebuilding. He also globally with awards including Rotary Peace Dove
serves as Associate Director of Sustainability and (2021), Rotary Peace Fellowship (2019–2021), JCI
Community Resilience at Community Friends Ltd, Singapore Ten Outstanding Young Persons Award
where he designs programmes that divert food (2018), Australian Coral Watch Ambassador Award
waste from landfills, train volunteers, and support (2020), Young Southeast Asian Leadership Initiative
vulnerable groups, including older people, people Professional Sustainability Fellow (2017), MCCC
with disabilities, and people without homes. ASEAN Green Award 2015, HVCC Singapore Silent
Heroes Award (2014), South Australia Governors
His professional journey includes consulting roles Multicultural Youth Award (2010), Rotary Young
with Viva Reborn in Indonesia (climate resilience, Leader Award (2009), NTU Green Rooftop Garden
food security, and WASH), UN-Habitat, and BORDA Titanium Award (2008), EcoFriend Award (2007),
Southeast Asia, where he contributed to municipal the HSBC NYAA Youth Environmental Awards (2004
water and sanitation strategies and youth-focused & 2007), and the Bayer Young Environmental Envoy
climate action. He has also advised on net-zero (2002).
policies and renewable energy frameworks in
Australia, helping accelerate transitions to carbon Through his unwavering commitment to
neutrality. sustainability, social equity, and peacebuilding,
Ramanathan Thurairajoo continues to inspire youth
Currently pursuing a PhD at the University of and communities worldwide to embrace resilience,
Queensland, Ramanathan’s research focuses on cooperation, and hope.
conflict-sensitive approaches to climate mitigation
and adaptation in the Asia-Pacific, bridging peace
studies with environmental governance.

Beyond academia and consultancy, his recent
projects include leading the Climate Hack 2024 (Asia

116 30 Years of Service and Leadership