India
Connecting women, developing expertise and creating opportunities to shape a greener built environment.
The story of Women in ISHRAE (WII) is ultimately a story of evolution.
It began with the recognition that women needed greater representation within a predominately male technical sector. It has developed into a platform for knowledge, networking, professional development and leadership.
Established in 2017 within the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE), WII brings together women contributing to HVAC&R and the wider building sector as engineers, architects, researchers, consultants, entrepreneurs, educators and leaders.
Through its focus on Technical, Education, Digitalisation, Industry Connect and Environmental Sustainability, and flagship initiatives such as Shakti and FemTech, Women in ISHRAE is creating pathways for women to participate more actively in the profession.
As ISHRAE works towards its vision of “Engineering a Greener Global Built Environment”, women’s participation is an important part of that journey. WII’s ambition extends beyond increasing participation: it is about more women shaping the industry’s future.
That is where its transition from women’s empowerment to women-led development becomes meaningful.
In this article
- Growing a professional community
- The women who helped shape WII
- Nivedita Jadhav
- Anushree Riswadkar
- Deepa RajGanesh
- Jayanthi Nagarajan
- Building the next generation
- Shakti: leadership, networking and sustainability
- FemTech: advancing technical expertise
- From participation to influence
- Local experience, global connections
Growing a professional community
Women in ISHRAE has grown from a relatively small group of 150 women professionals into a network of more than 900 women members.
It is supported by the broader ISHRAE community, which the submission describes as comprising more than 25,000 members and 51 chapters and sub-chapters, in addition to six international chapters.
The building industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation driven by climate change, energy efficiency, digitalisation and changing expectations around health and comfort. This transformation requires talent from across the professional community.
Women in ISHRAE provides a platform for women to contribute to that transformation through their technical expertise, professional experience and leadership.
The forum has developed a network of women experts, creating opportunities for mentoring and nurturing emerging talent. It also encourages more women to become speakers, subject-matter experts, researchers and contributors to industry standards.
Promoting women-led entrepreneurship and strengthening women’s roles in sustainability initiatives can further expand their influence. Together, these efforts create opportunities to participate in strategic planning, shape industry practices and take on leadership and decision-making responsibilities.
The women who helped shape its development
The growth of a professional community is also a story of the people who give it their time, experience and encouragement.
The following contributions introduce four past chairs presented in WII’s submission as past Society Chairs. Their experiences span engineering, entrepreneurship, consulting, technical programmes and professional service.
Nivedita Jadhav: leadership, service and giving back
First National Chair of Women in ISHRAE, 2017–2019
“A journey that began as a mechanical engineer in 1988, along with qualifications as an IGBC AP and GRIHA CP, has taken me through shop-floor supervision, production, sales and marketing, finance, project management, MEP consulting and sustainability, with an entrepreneurial stint in high-purity water systems along the way.
I also took a seven-year career break, from 1995 to 2002, to raise my children. In 2010, I joined ISHRAE and, in 2011, ASHRAE. What followed has been a continuing journey of professional learning, leadership and giving back to the industry.
At ISHRAE, I was a founding member of the Thane CWC before becoming Chapter President in 2016–17. My national responsibilities included chairing K12, Pharma Connect and the Standards Committee, as well as becoming the first Chair of Women in ISHRAE from 2017 to 2019.
Two milestones remain particularly significant: I am, to date, the only woman to have served as National Treasurer of ISHRAE, in 2019–20, and the only woman to have served as Chairperson of Refcold, ISHRAE’s premier refrigeration exhibition. I also served as Treasurer for ACREX 2019 and contributed to several other major national initiatives.
My contribution has extended beyond the societies. As a core committee member for ECSBC, I helped coordinate the document with BEE, ISHRAE, IGBC and IPA for its release in 2024. I also represented ISHRAE on CED Panel 14 in the revision leading to NBCS 2026.
At ASHRAE Mumbai, I progressed through roles including Historian, Research Promotion Chair, CTTC Chair and Membership Promotion Chair, and served as Chapter President in 2022–23. During that tenure, Mumbai organised the third ASHRAE Developing Economies Conference.
I have also served as Regional Treasurer at ASHRAE RAL and as a voting member of the ASHRAE Conferences and Expositions Committee in the US. More recently, I served on the technical committees for the fourth Developing Economies Conference in Delhi and the third CRC in Kovalam; earlier, I was Registration and Finance Chair for the 2016 Super CRC.
Women in ISHRAE has been one of the most meaningful chapters of this journey. In those early years, I was often the only woman, or one of just two women, in a boardroom of hundreds of men.
When I became the first Chair of Women in ISHRAE, the focus was simple: visit chapters, meet women professionals and students, encourage them to step forward, participate and recognise the value they could create for themselves and the industry.
It has been immensely encouraging to see that effort evolve. ISHRAE has since seen women take on roles as Presidents, Society Chairs and Vice-Chairs, Zonal Chairs and leaders of Programmes, Education and Certification, Advocacy and K12.
From Dr Roshini Easow, the first woman Chapter President, to the many women leading chapters and committees and serving as Distinguished Lecturers today, the transformation is visible. There is still a long way to go, but I am confident that more women will continue to break glass ceilings.
I also believe strongly that women can balance work, family and society activities well. It may sometimes appear stressful, but it need not be; the experience can be deeply enriching. The benefits are often intangible—confidence, friendships, learning, purpose and the satisfaction of contributing to something larger than oneself.
Both ISHRAE and ASHRAE have shaped the confident person I am today. I am grateful for every colleague, mentor, opportunity and experience—and especially for an encouraging family whose support made this journey possible.”
Anushree Riswadkar: entrepreneurship and industrial refrigeration
CEO and Partner, Parag Marketing Services — Pune, Maharashtra
Anushree Riswadkar is a business leader and entrepreneur working across industrial refrigeration, compressors and business-to-business distribution.
As CEO and Partner of Parag Marketing Services, established in 1993, she leads business operations, strategic planning and market expansion. Her work combines technical product knowledge with commercial development and customer relationships.
The company’s portfolio includes Aria screw air compressors, Kirloskar gas compressors, Kirloskar ammonia compressors and replacement spare parts.
Its customers span manufacturing plants, cold-storage facilities, hospitals and petrochemical industries. Anushree’s responsibilities include developing partnerships, providing technical guidance and overseeing service and product delivery.
Her approach emphasises operational transparency, ethical business practices and continuous improvement, supporting the company’s long-term development.
The supplied profile identifies recognition as India’s Largest Dealer in Kirloskar Compressors, alongside appreciation and performance awards from cold-storage associations and industrial bodies across Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat.
Her professional expertise includes corporate strategy, business growth, financial management, supply-chain oversight, inventory management and dealership development. It also encompasses industrial air systems, refrigeration cycles, screw and reciprocating compressors, and the management of long-term technical and commercial relationships.
Her involvement in professional engineering societies connects this business experience with wider industry development and networking.
Deepa RajGanesh: from avionics to sustainable HVAC
Business Partner, Arctic Traders — Bengaluru
Deepa RajGanesh’s career spans two technical fields: advanced avionics software engineering and sustainable HVAC solutions.
Before moving into HVAC, she spent 13 years in aviation software, working on requirements, design, coding and verification for mission-critical avionics applications. International assignments took her to the United States and Israel for defence software development and verification projects.
As a Business Partner at Arctic Traders in Bengaluru, she now works on energy-efficient ventilation and air-conditioning solutions. Her responsibilities include business operations, strategic growth, project coordination and the development of customer and technical partnerships.
Her work includes promoting Kruger ventilation products and energy conservation across commercial and industrial applications.
The supplied profile records recognition including a Special Initiative Award for Energy Conservative Solutions, a Silver Dealership Award and recognition as a Sustainability Champion, alongside awards relating to sales, dealership performance and contributions to energy-efficient buildings.
Within ISHRAE, Deepa has served as National Women Chair and National Programme Vice-Chair, contributing to networking, technical awareness and professional development for students and industry colleagues.
Her submission links the introduction of Shakti to her tenure, beginning with a major event at the Bangalore Chapter.
Her experience brings together sustainable ventilation, technical and commercial coordination, software engineering, association leadership and mentorship.
Jayanthi Nagarajan
General Manager - Sales (Industrial Fans) , Nadi Airtechnics Pvt Ltd
Jayanthi Nagarajan is a Chennai-based sales and business-development leader with more than three decades of experience in industrial air-movement and ventilation solutions. She is General Manager – All India Sales at Nadi Airtechnics, a manufacturer of industrial fans, and previously served as Head of Commercial at Antunes NADI Manufacturing India.
Jayanthi’s career reflects sustained leadership in India’s industrial fans and HVAC/R sector. At Nadi Airtechnics, she leads all-India sales operations, building commercial strategy, managing key customer relationships, and driving business growth across industrial ventilation projects. Her earlier role as Head of Commercial at Antunes NADI Manufacturing India further strengthened her expertise in commercial operations, project management, and customer-facing business development.
Beyond her corporate roles, she has been an active industry contributor, serving as the immediate past National Chair of the ISHRAE Women Committee, where she supported women’s leadership and professional engagement in the HVAC&R community.
Building the next generation
The future of Women in ISHRAE also depends on engaging young professionals and students.
ISHRAE’s student community extends across hundreds of colleges. Student activities are intended to develop technical skills, professional exposure, connections between industry and academia, and leadership capabilities.
Connecting young women students with experienced women professionals can help them understand the range of careers available in the building sector, gain exposure to industry practice and develop the confidence to take on responsibilities.
Mentoring and professional connections can support that progression from education into employment and, over time, into technical leadership, entrepreneurship and decision-making.
This connects WII’s work with established professionals to its ambitions for the next generation.
Shakti and FemTech: putting participation into practice
Two flagship programmes illustrate how Women in ISHRAE brings its aims into practical professional settings: Shakti and FemTech.
Together, they address leadership development, collaboration and technical expertise across HVAC&R and the wider built environment.
They give women opportunities to share knowledge, present their work, build professional relationships and contribute to the industry’s response to sustainability and the transition towards net zero.
Shakti: leadership, networking and sustainability
The supplied account expands Shakti as “Stree in HVAC and Architecture Key in Transforming the Industry.” It explains that Sthree means woman and Shakti means power.
Shakti is a national flagship event designed to foster knowledge sharing, professional growth and collaboration across HVAC&R and architecture.
Reflecting WII’s transition from women’s empowerment towards women-led development, it brings together women leaders, engineers and professionals contributing to change in the built environment.
Themes and professional exchange
Its themes include environmental sustainability, digitalisation, decarbonisation and leadership development.
Programmes feature keynote presentations by industry specialists, panel discussions on green-building frameworks and opportunities for professional networking.
These activities create space for participants to exchange experience, discuss the sector’s direction and build relationships that support their work.
Reach across India
The submission describes Shakti as a full-day event delivered across India’s North, West and South zones, with attendance ranging from approximately 170 to more than 300 delegates per edition.
Host cities have included Bengaluru, Vadodara, Gurugram, New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.
The different locations allow women from across the professional community to participate in national conversations while building connections through their chapters and regions.
Extending international connections
The Women in ISHRAE UAE Sub-Chapter hosted Shakti–WomenXClimate, at Expo City Dubai.
Its focus included climate action, resilience and sustainability journeys led by women, extending the programme’s professional exchange beyond India.
FemTech: advancing technical expertise
FemTech focuses on technical knowledge sharing and professional development, highlighting the contributions of women working in HVAC&R, engineering, architecture, construction and related disciplines.
It celebrates women’s achievements in technology and seeks to inspire the next generation of technical leaders.
The programme provides a platform for women to present innovative work, research findings and project experience. It also encourages collaboration between professionals working in HVAC, architecture, energy management and allied fields.
Its emphasis is on technical expertise, research and practical experience, connecting theoretical knowledge with its application in building services.
A platform for research and project experience
FemTech events take the form of full-day or half-day technical conferences. The submission describes participation as typically 60 or more attendees, with women engineers, scientists and academics presenting technical papers and experiences from their projects.
Subjects have included:
- Internet of Things applications for building sustainability.
- Cleanroom design for semiconductor facilities.
- Low-carbon building transitions.
- Computational fluid dynamics.
- Energy-efficient HVAC configurations.
- Green-building design and intellectual property rights.
By bringing these subjects into a professional forum, FemTech gives women opportunities to contribute as technical authorities and learn from one another’s work.
Activities across chapters
FemTech has been conducted across chapters including Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kalpakkam and Trivandrum.
Events at IGCAR in Kalpakkam and in Ahmedabad have addressed technological developments, green-building design, intellectual property rights and HVAC system optimisation.
The Trivandrum programme also recognised research scholars’ work and included an exhibition of research posters.
These activities allow the programme to reflect different areas of expertise while maintaining its focus on women’s technical contributions.
From participation to influence
Women in ISHRAE’s development brings together several connected ambitions: stronger technical capabilities, professional recognition, mentoring, entrepreneurship and opportunities to lead.
Shakti and FemTech provide settings in which women can share their knowledge and demonstrate the contribution they are already making. Student engagement and mentoring help extend those opportunities to women beginning their careers.
The experiences of its past chairs also show the value of professional service: visiting chapters, encouraging participation, developing programmes and making room for others to contribute.
As the industry responds to climate change, digitalisation and the need for more efficient buildings, WII seeks to ensure women help shape both the technical response and the decisions behind it.
Its future is therefore about more than increasing the number of women in the industry. It is about strengthening their ability to influence its direction.
Local experience, global connections
For Global HVACR Women Week, Women in ISHRAE offers the experience of a community that has grown through professional knowledge, voluntary leadership and connections between women at different stages of their careers.
Its members bring expertise from across the built environment. Their programmes create opportunities to exchange that expertise within India and, increasingly, internationally.
Sharing this work introduces other women and organisations to WII’s experience while opening possibilities for further conversations, learning and collaboration.
Find out more at: Women in ISHRAE
Local voices. Global connections. One HVACR community.
Women in ISHRAE is featured as part of Global HVACR Women Week, 25–31 October 2026, sharing the people, experiences and initiatives supporting women across our industry.
Discover other organisations, share your story or add your photograph to our Community Wall. Every contribution helps women find one another, exchange knowledge and build connections that last beyond the week.
