Description

Dr. Venu Vasudevan is Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Kerala, with charge of several departments. 

Dr. Venu joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1990 and has served the Government of India and the Government of Kerala in various capacities. 

He has served the sectors of Tourism and Culture in a variety of assignments. It was during his tenure as Director, Kerala Tourism, and later as Secretary, Department of Tourism, that Kerala transformed its market positioning and built up a strong private-public partnership. Kerala Travel Mart, the biggest international travel mart in India, is his brainchild. He played a pivotal role in formulating and rolling out the ‘Incredible India’ campaign of the Ministry of Tourism. He was instrumental in Kerala embarking on the path of ‘Responsible Tourism’ and has been a vocal advocate of community rights and responsibility in tourism. His book “An introduction to the Business of Tourism”, is widely regarded as the definitive textbook for the undergraduate and graduate students of tourism. 

He served as Secretary, Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala (2007-2011), during which period the International Theatre Festival of Kerala was established. He was instrumental in setting up and curating a new museum, ‘Keralam’. He served as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, with responsibility over apex cultural institutions, libraries, archives, and Museums. As Director-General of the National Museum, he worked on the revival of the National Museum, initiating a range of projects that improved arrivals, enhanced visibility, involved stakeholders and the academic community. He served as Vice-Chancellor, National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation and Museology.

In the aftermath of the natural disaster in 2018, Dr. Venu was appointed as the Principal Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management, and oversaw the massive relief and rehabilitation program in the state. He was appointed the Chief Executive, Rebuilding Kerala Initiative (RKI), where he was instrumental in successfully negotiating a World Bank aided program for rebuilding the critical infrastructure of the state.

He played a key role in the improvement and upgradation of the museums and archives of Kerala. He continues his interest in developing community museums with local participation.

Presently, Dr. Venu Vasudevan serves the Government of Kerala as Additional Chief Secretary. Among his responsibilities are the departments of Higher Education, Environment, Planning, and Economic Affairs, Archaeology, Museums, and Archives. 

On the personal front, Dr. Venu has been involved in theatre as an actor and activist. He is a fan of the Arsenal football club. His wife, Sarada Muraleedharan, is the Additional Chief Secretary of, Local Self Government department.

All sessions are in Central time USA (CST USA) and Kerala, Indian time (IST). Please use this Time Zone Converter to assist you. 

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85298600636?pwd=VTVneW9JVk1mWldqVEVhNmp3UnhxQT09 

Meeting ID: 852 9860 0636

Passcode: K22