Washington: US President Joe Biden has announced his intent to appoint two Indian-Americans Manu Asthana and Madhu Beriwal to his National Infrastructure Advisory Council.

The President’s NIAC advises the White House on how to reduce physical and cyber risks, and improve security and resilience of the nation’s critical infrastructure sectors. The 26 individuals announced Wednesday to the NIAC are leading senior executives with deep experience across a broad range of sectors, including banking and finance, transportation, energy, water, dams, defence, communications, information technology, healthcare services, food and agriculture, government facilities, emergency services, and higher education.

Asthana oversees the largest power grid in North America and one of the largest electricity markets in the world as the CEO and president of PJM. According to the White House sources PJM has established a clear path for defining the grid operator’s role in the transition to a cleaner, more efficient grid while maintaining reliable electric service under his leadership. Asthana has extensive leadership experience in the energy industry in the areas of power generation operations, optimization and dispatch, competitive retail electricity, electricity and natural gas trading, and risk management.

He is a member of the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council and serves on the Board of Trustees of Texas Children’s Hospital, the White House added.

Madhu Beriwal founded the Innovative Emergency Management, Inc. (IEM) in 1985 and continues to serve as its CEO and president. IEM is the largest woman-led homeland security and emergency management firm in the US. Under her leadership, IEM has led some of the largest mitigation and resilience efforts across the US, building back stronger following disasters including disaster recovery programs, delivering federal funds to survivors and communities faster than any other program of the same type and magnitude, the White House said.

She has been dedicated to the use of technology to enhance preparedness and response for 37 years, and build resilience in communities and their critical infrastructure. She was inducted into the International Women in Homeland Security and Emergency Management Hall of Fame in 2012, it said. She holds a master’s degree in urban planning and a bachelor’s degree in geography and economics.