K. Ashok Vardhan Shetty is a retired IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu Cadre of the 1983 batch. Starting out as Sub Collector, Hosur in 1985, Mr. Shetty held a number of key assignments including Registrar of the University of Madras; Deputy Commissioner (Commercial Taxes), Madras North; District Collector, Villupuram; Director of Rural Development; Managing Director, TASMAC; Secretary, Chief Minister’s Secretariat; Managing Director, SAGOSERVE, Salem; Principal Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department; Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Water Supply, among others.

Ms. Tara Murali was a long-term Trustee, Advisor, friend and mentor of CAG. For over 40 years, she was an Associate Architect in ‘Bharath and Associates’, a premier architect’s firm in Chennai. She was the Secretary of Indian Institute of Architects, Tamil Nadu Chapter and Vice President of the Palani Hills Conservation Council. She was a member of the Governing Council of INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage). She was also a non-official member of the Madras High Court-appointed monitoring committee of CMDA (Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority).

Mr. K. Phanindra Reddy is a retired IAS officer (1990 batch, Tamil Nadu cadre).  Over his career, he has held key roles in urban development, water management, and public administration. As Collector of Perambalur, he pioneered women’s self-help groups through Anganwadi workers. He later served as MD/CEO of Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited, managing major World Bank, KfW, and JICA projects, and chaired the State Finance Commission. As Member Secretary of the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust, he led the restoration of the Adyar Creek. As Principal Secretary, he introduced faecal sludge management, desalination and stormwater projects, and launched the Sustainable Water Security Mission.

He has also led the Handlooms, HR&CE, Revenue, Commercial Taxes, and Home, Prohibition & Excise Departments, implementing reforms such as the 7th Pay Commission for temple staff, cyclone relief operations, stronger GST enforcement, and the Online Gambling Prohibition Act and in his final posting as Additional Chief Secretary, Transport and Natural Resources Management, he has driven CNG bus conversions, logistics expansion, and digital permit systems to curb illegal mining.