Ajit Kapadia is vice chairman of the Centre for Fuel Studies and Research and also senior advisor of the Hindustan Oil Exploration Company, where he has served since 1987 in such positions as member of the Board of Directors, and non-executive director. He began his career in the energy industry in the United States, where he worked as a process engineer for several leading engineering and construction companies. Upon returning to India in 1971, Mr. Kapadia continued to work in the process design area with Engineers India Ltd, and later served as board member and director for planning of the Gas Authority of India Ltd. He is the founder of the non-profit, non-governmental organization, Centre for Fuel Studies and Research, which analyzes policy issues in the hydrocarbon sector with a view to optimizing energy resources. He is also a member of the Confederation of Indian Industries as well as member of the Confederation's Gujarat Energy Panel. Mr. Kapaida received a B.S. degree from Bombay University and an M.S. degree in chemical engineering from the University of Louisville, Kentucky, USA.