Shri P. Ray, IAS (retired), joined as Chairperson, WBERC on the 1st October, 2008. Born on 13th September, 1948, he graduated from the Presidency College, Calcutta with Honours in Physics in 1968 and obtained his Master’s degree in Pure Physics from the University of Calcutta in 1970, being placed 1st class 1st in both examinations. Thereafter, he became an Associate of the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics in the 1971-72 session before joining the Indian Administrative service in 1972. He held various key assignments including posts of District Magistrate & Collector, Murshidabad, Director of School Education, Director of Panchayats & Joint Secretary, Rural Development Department, Special Secretary in the Panchayats & Rural Development Departments as also the Finance and Excise Departments, Secretary in the Public Health Engineering Department, Cottage & Small Scale Industries Department, Development & Planning Department and Commerce & Industries Department, Principal Secretary in the Panchayats & Rural Development Department , Land & Land Reforms Department, Forests Department and Power Department, and Additional Chief Secretary in the Home Department and Higher Education Department. He was also a Huber H. Humphery Fellow at the Cornell University, U.S (1980-81) securing the Master of Professional Studies (International Agriculture) and also did a certificate course in Development Studies at the University College of London (1991).
Deeply interested in Wildlife, Environment, Heritage Conservation and Cricket, he is involved in several organizations and has authored and edited 10 books till date.