Neeta Patel CBE named Top Asian in UK Tech 2022
Neeta Patel CBE, Non-Executive Director at Allianz Technology Trust PLC & Albion Venture Capital Trust PLC, and previously Founding CEO of the Centre for Entrepreneurs, was last night named as the Top Asian in UK Tech 2022 by equality charity Diversity UK, publishers of the Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech list and the Asian Tech Pioneers index. The Chairman’s Award was presented by Ramesh Vala CBE, Chairman of the Judging Panel and sponsors; Nasser Ali Khasawneh, Partner & Global Head of TMT, Eversheds Sutherland and Adrian Simpson, Co-Founder, Wavelength at the launch of the eight edition of the list.
Neeta is a Non-Executive Director at FTSE 250-listed Allianz Technology Trust PLC and Albion Venture Capital Trust PLC, and was Founding CEO of the NEF+ programme, the UK’s leading entrepreneur development programme and latterly of the merged Centre for Entrepreneurs (CFE). Prior to joining the CFE, she held senior positions at Legal & General PLC, Financial Times Group and at the British Council. Neeta is an experienced executive with over 30 years of strategy and operational leadership experience. She holds an MA from Oxford University, an MBA from Bayes Business School and a Sloan Fellowship from London Business School. She was appointed CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list 2020 for services to technology and entrepreneurship.
Chairman of the judging panel, Ramesh Vala CBE said in his citation:
“Neeta Patel was nominated for consideration for the Chairman’s Award because of her unwavering support of the Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech list, having been a judge herself in 2015, 2020 & 2021; introducing new judges in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and for moderating at the Diversity Tech Summit in 2016 & 2022. In her previous role as Founding CEO of Centre For Entrepreneurs, she has supported and mentored more than 350 young people, including many from diverse backgrounds, who have gone through the CFE’s flagship NEF+ programme, launching 200+ ventures, raising £240m with an aggregate valuation of £600m and have created more than 5000 jobs. She has also supported women founders via her roles as Entrepreneur-Mentor in-Residence at London Business School, Tech London Advocates and at City University Ventures. She was a speaker at the Diversity UK ‘Investing in Women Founders’ panel discussion in 2021; a moderator for the Diversity Tech Summit 2016 & 2022 and has attended a number of Diversity UK events since 2012.”
“In my humble view, Neeta Patel CBE is a very worthy recipient of the Chairman’s Award for 2022. She is an outstanding candidate in terms of her work in the tech and diversity sectors. The only surprise for me is that she has not received the award in previous years.”
On accepting the award, Neeta Patel CBE said: I am truly honoured and humbled to have received this award, following in the footsteps of so many eminent previous winners. Thank you to the judges and to Diversity UK for this and for the excellent work you do in keeping this issue at the forefront of business and entrepreneurship in the UK. Supporting and enabling diverse talent to start and grow businesses has been a long- term passion for me and I am committed to supporting this talent in any small way I can.”
