K. Chelvakumar

Chelva is an educator and business leader with a Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology and a Healthcare MBA from UC Irvine. He has a proven record of leadership in the areas of defense, healthcare, finance, and academia. Chelva is currently the Executive Vice President at the GIFT International FinTech Institute (GIFT ifi) and a professor of finance and mechanical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN). His current professional focus is to operationalize and internationalize India’s Fintech advantage through GIFT ifi.

Defense: Chelva has been a member of EPIR Technologies Inc.’s Board since 1999 and served as its President from 2010 to 2015. The company developed cutting-edge photovoltaic materials for night vision, missile guidance, and solar applications. Notably, EPIR shattered a world record for open-circuit voltage in solar cells using CdTe technology. He secured a $25 million contract with First Solar for enhancement of cell efficiency. Additionally, the company made key contributions by supplying nanomaterials for the ASTRO-H satellite.

Healthcare: From 1996 to 2010, Chelva held key leadership roles in California’s healthcare sector. He has served as Chairman of the Board, Chief Financial Officer, and Corporate Responsibility Officer in multiple hospital systems, including the $6 billion (50,000 crores/year) Daughters of Charity Health System (DOCHS). He was part of the team that secured $4.2 billion in Medicaid funding through the Provider Fee legislation, transforming an adversarial relationship with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) into a strategic partnership. Additionally, he oversaw the launch of key facilities such as urgent and wound care centers.

Software: Chelva founded and led ReproNet, developing targeted software solutions for the rapid transmission of AutoCAD files and remote-controlled plotting technology. Between 1990 to 1996, he implemented electronic signature validation for change orders, an early Fintech application. This significantly reduced costs for mid- to large-value construction projects, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars per change.

Academia: Since 1980, Chelva has been actively engaged in academia, contributing to research and education across multiple disciplines. As a tenure-track faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University, he led the structural design team for the Mars Rover robotics project. Over the years, he has taught more than 40 courses at universities worldwide. Currently, he teaches and mentors research teams at IIT Gandhinagar, focusing on business, finance, technology, and negotiations.

Other: Chelva’s leadership spans diplomacy, academia, and business. During the Sri Lankan Civil War, he facilitated negotiations between governments and Tamil leadership. A former national weightlifting champion, he also contributed to the arts, performing with Carnatic maestro M.L. Vasanthakumari. He resides in Orange County, CA, with his wife, Latha, a visiting professor at IIT Gandhinagar and medical device consultant. Their daughters, both accomplished physicians, serve as professors at UC San Diego and Stanford University.