WISE's founder Director General is G. M. Pillai, a senior officer of the Indian Administrative Service having vast experience of development at national and international levels. He is a well known author and speaker in the area of environment and development. Prior to joining WISE, Mr Pillai was Director General of the Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA), Pune for a period of 4½ years. During his tenure in MEDA, he pioneered many path breaking activities in the area of green power development. They include, establishment of 400 MW Wind power projects, imposition of a green cess on conventional energy for creating a 1000 crore fund to develop renewables, filing a petition before the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) to impose the system of Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) in Maharashtra (first time in developing countries). His outstanding work in the area of wind power development in Maharashtra resulted in MEDA receiving the National Award in this field for 4 consecutive years, from 1999-2000 to 2002-2003. Besides, Mr Pillai has also been conferred with the SESI Award for Business Leadership in renewable energy development in the country.