Ms Sunita Narain was named "India's Most Influential Environmental Activist" by Time Magazine in 2007. She heads The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in New Delhi which monitors air pollution levels around India, studies the effects of climate change and campaigns on how to lead greener lives.

Sunita and the CSE led the successful campaign to compel all public vehicles in Delhi to switch to clean compressed natural gas, the first city in the world to take such an initiative. But it is her criticism of international soft drink makers Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, which has spurred some Indian states to ban the sales of Coke and Pepsi in 2006 due to allegedly high levels of pesticide that has won Ms. Narain most attention.

Ms Narain travels the country advocating that natural resources, particularly water, must be protected to benefit the poor. She was awarded the 2005 Stockholm Water Prize for CSE's work promoting decentralized water management through rainwater harvesting. Also in 2005, the Indian Government awarded her the Padma Shri medal.

RSVP essential by sending an email with "Sunita Narain" in the subject line to events@asialink.unimelb.edu.au