Meena Bharadwa

Meena has been working with people, communities and systems to tackle inequality for over twenty years including establishing, running and supporting social enterprises across the West Midlands. Her specialisms include; Place-based and community-led economic development and working with communities facing inequality.

After completing her Masters at the University of Sheffield Meena worked in community development, working alongside marginalised communities across Birmingham. It was during this time her passion for creating places that work for everyone led her to work on building community power and local economic resilience through enterprise and asset ownership.

Before joining Access Meena led national work on community-led approaches to health and wellbeing, publishing research with national partners such as NHS England, the Office for Health Disparities, What Works Centre for Wellbeing and Leeds Beckett University. 

Meena also co-authored the West Midlands Combined Authority’s approach to growing the social economy. Meena is the Chair of People’s Economy, a national charity building people power to change the economy, a former Director of The Key Fund; a social investment charity and a founder member of West Midlands Urban Community Housing.