Sudha Ramen

Sudha Ramen

Sudha Ramen is a civil servant in the Indian Forestry Forest Service. Her current position is Member Secretary, of the State Planning Commission in the Government of Tamil Nadu, where she also leads the Land Use Division and serves as Nodal Officer for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As the Founding Director of the Centre for Innovation in Governance (CIG), she has led pioneering efforts to mainstream public sector innovation in Tamil Nadu. Notably, she spearheaded a global-first partnership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Observatory of Public Sector Innovation (OPSI) and UNICEF’s Office of Innovation, focusing on innovation policy design, institutional frameworks, and monitoring and evaluation systems for public service delivery. Her professional work spans climate resilience, land-use planning, nature-based solutions, and innovation-driven governance. She has contributed to flagship initiatives such as the Tamil Nadu Heat Mitigation Strategy, the establishment of the State Institute for Transformation and coordination through the SDG Coordination Centre, and the deployment of geospatial and AI-enabled platforms for environmental and land-use governance. She is also committed to mentoring students and young professionals. Her work has been recognised through multiple awards from the Government of India, the State Government, and other institutions, acknowledging her impact-oriented contributions to governance and public service.