Srilanka

Advisor - Carbon Offsets & Credits

Designation -

Director, Center for Sustainability and Professor in Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka

Bio Description –

Prof. Priyan Perera is the Founding Director of the Center for Sustainability of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. He is a Professor of the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, with over 15 years of experience in research, teaching, extension, and outreach in the fields of environmental management and sustainability.

As a passionate sustainability professional and environmentalist, Prof. Priyan strongly believes that Universities and young professionals should take the lead in transforming society to a greener and more sustainable one. As the leader of the Office of Sustainability, he developed and initiated numerous strategies to lead the University of Sri Jayewardenepura to achieve its sustainability goals. Among many achievements, his leadership in spearheading the “University of Sri Jayewardenepura Carbon Zero” program can be highlighted.

In 2019, Prof. Priyan initiated a program to estimate the University’s carbon footprint and offset emissions through university-managed carbon sinks. This involved setting up a “carbon management team” comprising members from all key university divisions to report their respective divisions' emissions to a central database disclosing the university carbon footprint according to ISO14064-1 standard and insetting GHG emissions through improved environmental management and reforestation projects. His efforts led the lead University of Sri Jayewardenepura to become the first Carbon Neutral University in South Asia.

Prof.Priyan is also a keen nature lover and conservationist. He is leading the flagship research of international significance on the conservation of endangered Indian Pangolin in Sri Lanka. He is currently serving as the South Asian Regional Co-Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, Pangolin Specialist Group, and contributed to the Global Red Listing Assessment of the Indian Pangolin. Prof. Priyan is also an Honorary Research Fellow of the College of Science in the Health, Engineering, and Education in the discipline of Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia.

As a passionate sustainability educator and consultant, Prof. Proyan Perera is keen to share his knowledge on best practices in achieving corporate sustainability goals with the industry and enlighten the young generation to become responsible and better stewards of the environment.