Narayanan Chidambaram is an accomplished Project Engineering and Digital Transformation leader with over 18 years of experience driving innovation, automation, and AI-enabled engineering solutions across PETRONAS’ capital projects. As Head of Project Engineering Pod, he spearheads enterprise-level AI initiatives, including the development of Augmented HAZOP, automated engineering review systems, and data-centric project delivery frameworks that have collectively unlocked significant value.
Narayanan has been instrumental in transitioning engineering workflows from document-heavy processes to fully digital, data-driven ecosystems. His work includes developing AI-integrated decision support tools and championing responsible AI adoption across capital project environments. His leadership spans advanced analytics, generative AI, automation tools, and hybrid energy solutions, underpinned by deep expertise in electrical engineering and project management.
A frequent speaker and published contributor in global technical forums, including IEEE PECon, Loss Prevention Asia, and JIP36 Engagement Day, Narayanan brings a practitioner’s perspective to deploying AI and agentic systems safely, responsibly, and at scale. His passion lies in bridging engineering fundamentals with cutting-edge AI technologies to enhance safety, compliance, operational efficiency, and cross-discipline collaboration.
He is a PMP-certified professional technologist (MBOT) and an advocate for democratising digital capabilities across engineering and project teams. Narayanan also leads youth empowerment initiatives through PMI MY programmes, reflecting his commitment to building future-ready talent.
