Dr. Satej Gangaram Raikar: Leadership Forged in Safety, Governance, and Frontline Service

Mumbai, (Maharashtra) [India]: In a city where infrastructure stress, public safety risks, and emergency situations coexist daily, leadership is tested not in theory but in response. Dr. Satej Gangaram Raikar represents a rare category of professionals whose work seamlessly integrates engineering leadership, safety governance, legal compliance, and sustained public service.

An accomplished engineer, safety professional, and disaster-response specialist, Dr. Raikar brings together deep academic grounding with extensive on-ground experience. He holds a Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Management, an MBA in Operations and Project Management, an M.Phil in Management, and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. His professional depth is further strengthened by qualifications in Hospital Management, Medico-Legal Systems, and Health, Safety & Environment, along with globally recognised certifications such as NEBOSH and OSHA (USA). He has also successfully completed his LLB, reinforcing his ability to navigate regulatory, contractual, and statutory frameworks governing infrastructure, safety, and operations.

Engineering Leadership & Facility Management Excellence

As Director – Facilities & Projects at SEW Facility Management Pvt. Ltd. and SEW Engineering (India) Pvt. Ltd., Dr. Raikar plays a central role in overseeing large-scale facility operations, MEP infrastructure, safety systems, and compliance frameworks across diverse sites, including residential complexes, commercial establishments, healthcare facilities, and critical infrastructure environments.

Under his leadership, SEW Facility Management has achieved significant operational milestones:

1. Implementation of structured preventive and predictive maintenance programmes for electrical, mechanical, fire, and life-safety systems.
2. Standardisation of fire safety audits, mock drills, and evacuation protocols across multiple sites, aligned with statutory norms and best practices.
3. Strengthening of incident reporting, root-cause analysis, and corrective-action systems, improving response time and reducing repeat safety lapses.
4. Integration of vendor governance, contract compliance, and SLA-driven performance monitoring, enhancing accountability across facility operations.
5. Establishment of project-wise and site-wise safety governance models, ensuring discipline in high-risk operational environments.

Dr. Raikar is particularly known for embedding safety as a management discipline, not merely a statutory obligation. His approach ensures that engineering teams, security staff, housekeeping personnel, and vendors operate within clearly defined safety and compliance frameworks.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance Leadership

With his legal training and hands-on industry exposure, Dr. Raikar brings a strong legal-compliance orientation to facility management and infrastructure governance. He actively oversees adherence to:

1. Fire Safety Regulations, local fire brigade NOCs, and evacuation compliance
2. Factories Act, Contract Labour Act, and allied labour laws
3. Environmental, waste management, and occupational health regulations
4. Electrical safety standards, statutory inspections, and risk certifications
5. Contractual obligations, liability management, and dispute-avoidance mechanisms

His ability to bridge engineering execution with legal foresight has helped organisations mitigate regulatory risk, improve audit outcomes, and maintain operational continuity. This rare combination of technical authority and legal understanding positions him as a trusted advisor in complex facility and project environments.

Healthcare and Emergency Preparedness Leadership

Earlier in his career, Dr. Raikar served as Chief Engineer at Saifee Hospital, Mumbai, where he was instrumental in strengthening emergency preparedness and life-safety systems. He developed comprehensive fire evacuation manuals, conducted Civil Defence–aligned emergency training for hospital staff, and ensured readiness across critical systems. His work contributed directly to improved emergency response capability within a high-risk healthcare environment.

Frontline Disaster Response and Civil Defence Service

A defining pillar of Dr. Raikar’s life is his long-standing service with the Civil Defence Organisation, Mumbai, where he has volunteered since 2005. Over nearly two decades, he has been actively involved in:

1. Rescue operations and evacuation planning
2. Disaster preparedness training and public safety awareness
3. Coordination during floods, cyclones, fires, and structural collapses

His service record includes response during the 2005 Mumbai floods, Mumbai Train Bomb Blasts (2006), Opera House Bomb Blast (2011), Cyclone Nisarga (2020), and numerous building-collapse and fire incidents. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he supported relief distribution, patient transport, field coordination, and awareness initiatives, often working under prolonged and high-risk conditions.

Recognised for his 24/7 availability during emergencies, Dr. Raikar is frequently on the ground, coordinating teams, mentoring volunteers, administering first aid, and directing operations in challenging environments. He has also played a key role in training new Civil Defence volunteers and in restoring operational strength at the Mahim Divisional Office.

Community, Environment and Recognition

Beyond emergency response, Dr. Raikar has led community and environmental initiatives, including the Green Earth Clean Earth Drive, and continues to advocate for technology-enabled safety systems and structured preparedness at the community level.

In recognition of his dedicated service during the pandemic, he was honoured as a “COVID WARRIOR” by the Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra.

A Profile of Nomination-Worthy Leadership

Satej Gangaram Raikar’s career reflects leadership rooted in responsibility, preparedness, and integrity. His work spans engineering excellence, facility management governance, legal compliance, disaster response, and public service, a combination rarely seen in a single professional journey.

His leadership is not defined by visibility, but by reliability, standing ready when systems are tested and lives depend on informed, decisive action.