Lopa Patel MBE

Lopa Patel MBE is a prominent British Indian digital entrepreneur and the Chair of the Advisory Board at the National Science and Media Museum (NSMM), which is part of the Science Museum Group. She was appointed to this role in September 2022, becoming the first Asian woman to hold this position.12

Background and Career

Patel has a rich background in digital media and entrepreneurship. She is the founder of two ventures in online media and a data-driven marketing consultancy. Additionally, she serves as the Chair of Diversity UK, an equality and inclusion charity she established, and is a Non-Executive Director at the Intellectual Property Office (IPO).123

Her career includes significant contributions to various organizations:

• Trustee of the Science Museum Group: Patel has been a trustee since 2016, reappointed for a second term by the Prime Minister in 2020. She has played a vital role in digitizing the museum's extensive collection of over seven million objects.23
• Entrepreneurial Ventures: She founded Redhotcurry.com, which evolved from a recipe-sharing site into a lifestyle portal, and has been involved with several other media initiatives.4

Achievements and Recognition

Patel's work has earned her numerous accolades:

• MBE for Services to Creative Industries: Awarded in 2009.
• Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion: Received in 2015.
• Honorary Doctorate: Bestowed by The Open University in 2017 for her contributions to diversity in STEM.45

In her role at NSMM, Patel is focused on ambitious redevelopment plans, including new galleries aimed at enhancing public engagement with media and digital heritage as part of Bradford's City of Culture initiative for 2025.12

Vision for the National Science and Media Museum

Patel expressed her enthusiasm about her appointment, highlighting plans for new Sound and Vision galleries that will showcase significant collections related to sound and vision technologies. She aims to inspire diverse communities in Bradford through these initiatives.13