Anjna Patel MBE

Anjna has worked tirelessly to change the public’s perception of parking. Her actions have helped to professionalise the sector and brought recognition to the vital role parking officials play. Her determination and tenacity took her from a Traffic Warden in the 1980s, to become the Principal Officer of Road Safety & Parking at Sandwell Council today, the first woman to hold this position.

Her spare time is spent in voluntary roles dedicated to the progression of the parking profession and she had been a strong advocate for women, setting up the first Women in Parking online community in 2012. The British Parking Association (BPA) was proud to appoint her as its President in the same year, and she is currently chair of the BPA Board, having been elected in July 2022.

Previously Anjna chaired the BPA’s Professional Development & Standards Board, focusing her energy on encouraging the continuous development of parking professionals on a national scale. She helped to introduce parking qualifications which set standards across the sector for how enforcement officers carry out their work, inspiring some people to progress in their careers for the first time.

As well as her BPA voluntary work, she is the founder of a charity, Parasol (registration number 1122315), raising funds to support injured military personnel and their families. She coordinates the fundraising activities that include golf day and sponsored walks. The charity raises around £20,000pa, with proceeds being used to buy specialist equipment for injured soldiers and providing support for their families.

Anjna has a keen eye on the latest developments in Electric Vehicles. She brings a unique perspective of a local authority parking provider keen to ensure her organisation provides the optimal charging infrastructure to serve the local community now and into the future.