About Me

My Name is Dr. Mridula Chakraborty MBE.

Qualifications & Awards

  • MBE
  • Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
  • House of Lords Engineering Excellence Award. Awarded in September 2010, as a Global Non-Resident Indian award for contribution to British Society in the field of Science and Engineering.
  • Indian Technology Award
  • Hind Rattan Award in 2008 by NRII (Non-Resident Indian) Welfare Society in India, on achievements in the field of science and engineering. This was based on the establishing successful programmes, such as, ‘UK online for Business’ and ‘IT for ALL’ for connecting businesses, schools, and public organisations digitally throughout the UK in the early 2000 on behalf of the UK government’s Department of Trade and Industry.
  • In 2009 by Association for Indian Organisation, Glasgow, awarded for the contribution in the field of education in Science and Engineering and Social Cohesion.
  • Padma Awards – Nominated for Padma Awards in India, 4h highest civilian award, in 2019.
  • Sports Council for Glasgow – Services to Sports Award (2018)

  • B Sc (Hons) Physics, Allahabad University, India
  • B Eng, Electrical, Electronics & Communications Engineering (First Class honours) and scholarship at IIT, Roorkee, India
  • M Sc, Systems Engineering, British Council Scholarship at University of Strathclyde, Glasgow
  • PhD, Robotics, Design, Manufacturing and Engineering Management at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow
  • PRINCE2 Project Management Certified
  • CEng, MIET, M I Measurement & control
  • Information & IT Security Lead Auditor (ISO/IEC 27001)

Background

  • Over 30 years of professional experience as a chartered engineer and business consultant, involved in a wide variety of high-profile Innovation Projects. This includes leading Introduction of Industrial Robots for High Value advanced Manufacturing for the UK and Global companies, developing and implementing ‘UK online for business’ flagship project for the UK Government at the face of digital and internet revolution.
  • Working for the Innovation agency of the UK –Innovate UK(UKRI)– which spends more than three billion a year on Business Innovation and commercial exploitation, Working as technical assessor, monitoring officer and business strategy lead in areas of innovation for micro, small and medium size enterprises. More recent projects are related to application of Hydrogen as clean fuel for marine and blue economy. Also, engaged in the development of drones for humanitarian applications for developing countries, such as Malawi, Congo, and India.
  • Balanced her highly challenging technical work in a male dominated field, with very passionate involvement with the community work for the past 35 years in enhancing the promotion of Indian heritage and culture and improving social cohesion of Indians with the host community with multi-faith ethos acting as a chair of East Renfrewshire faith forum.
  • Promoting Women in Science and Engineering, working with Sir Monty Finniston and ‘WISE (Women in Science and Engineering)’. This involved media promotion and representing the UK Government. This was a one of the key activities of the government departments to attract youth to choose science and technology as a career.
  • Working in the Cabinet Office as part of the Policy Action Team (PAT13) during Prime Minister Tony Blair in office, promoting aspects of social exclusion and enhance cohesion. This policy action team (PAT13) concentrated on enhancing employability and enhancement of education in minority population with the use of Information Technology and social media.
  • Over 30 years of active involvement in supporting and managing socio-cultural activities serving Indians in and around Glasgow. Founder member of the Bengali Cultural Association in 1971 to eliminate isolation of Indian Bengalis and saving them from Social Exclusion and promoting cultural heritage. This was to enable better integration with the host community. This involved community-based projects and leading flagship programmes funded by Awards for All, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life, East Renfrewshire Council and North Lanarkshire Council. Also, started the multicultural festival ‘Durga Puja’ to promote cultural diversity and integration.
  • Managing flagship cultural programmes, in the capacity of General Secretary and President of the Bangiya Sanskritik Parishad (Bengali Cultural Association), Glasgow, General Secretary of the Association for the Indian Organisation (AIO), Board of directors of the Peace Arts (a charitable performing arts and cultural organisation), a Committee member of East Renfrewshire Interfaith Group,  Committee member of ‘Women Across the world’, the Glasgow Hindu Mandir and SEMSA(Scottish Ethnic Minority Sports Association). My main aim is to break down regional barriers of Indians in Glasgow and unite them, although maintain their diversity and beliefs.
  • Enhancement of the learning of classical Indian dance and music for youth of all ages and background through the running an academy (’Desi Bravehearts.’)