Lena Patel

Lena Patel is an Associate at iCoCo with responsibility for developing community cohesion and integration with the private sector.

In August 1999 Lena joined the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) where she was responsible for delivering race equality policies and practices for the private sector.

In April 2001 Lena joined the Greater London Authority, and helped set up the Mayor's Private Sector Team, which develops and maintains the Mayor's relationship with the private sector in London. Reporting directly to the Mayor's Director for Economic and Business Policy, Lena led the Mayor's work in a number of key areas including the higher and further education (HE/FE) sector, ethnic minority businesses and the creative industries.

In September 2003 Lena was appointed Manager of the Private Sector Team. Her role developed further, and she led a high profile Mayoral conference and research report called Women in London's Economy. She convened the Mayor's meetings with the London Business Board and represented the Mayor at key private sector events and meetings. She worked with the key Olympic agencies to ensure private sector involvement in the bid for the Olympic Games and thereafter support for its delivery. More recently, Lena played an active role in the Mayor's work with the emerging markets including China and India and helped with the setting up of Mayoral offices abroad. She has run seminars and workshops, including speaking at the Capital Woman Conference and the Mayor's HE/FE conference. Lena has engaged with the private sector on a number of key Mayoral initiatives including congestion charging, Crossrail, the London Plan, the environment and employment equality.