Sudha Pillai, 73 years, is an Alumna of Panjab University with a BA (Hons) degree in English Literature securing First Rank and Gold Medal and a master’s degree in Psychology, also securing First Rank and another Gold Medal. She also has a master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University, USA with special areas of interest in Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Employment & Growth, Macro-Economic Policy, World Food System, Equity in Rural Development Policy, Leadership & Mobilization of Group Resources.
Mrs. Pillai joined the Indian Administrative Services in 1972 with Second Rank on all India basis. She has served as Sub Collector and District Collector, Trivandrum, Chairman & Managing Director of Kerala Finance Corporation, Secretary Finance (Coordination), Govt. of Kerala, Principal Secretary (Finance) Govt. of Kerala. She has also served as Joint Secretary, Department of Company Affairs, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India and other positions under Govt. of India. She was part of the team involved in Industrial Licencing Policy Reforms in 1991 and she dealt with the re-drafting of Corporate laws. Mrs. Pillai was instrumental in drafting the very first Skill Development Policy and the first Safety and Health Policy during her stint as Labour Secretary. She was the signatory to the Seoul Declaration on Safety and Health at Work at the XVIII World Congress on Safety and Health at Work. Mrs. Pillai has served as Member Secretary of Planning Commission (India) in the rank of Minister of State and has served as a member of high-powered bodies on infrastructure development. She was an ex-officio member of the National Highway Authority of India, Indian Infrastructure Finance Company Limited, and the Central Councils of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Institute of Company Secretaries of India & Institute of Cost Accountants of India.