Born and raised in England, after graduating university, Gopal D. Patel studied at Hindu ashrams in India and England for two years, exploring the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and applying them to contemporary concerns. Two decades later and he’s still asking himself the same question: How are the wisdom, values, and knowledge of faith traditions and spirituality (including his own) relevant to the world and its challenges?
Patel is bridging the gap between the world of faith and spirituality and the secular world of technocrats and public policy. He helps people and institutions understand the significant contribution of faith based groups by translating and applying religious teachings and ideas into policy and action that contribute to the common good. For the last decade, he has advised global interfaith and environmental initiatives and worked for the inclusion of faith voices in local and international policy.
He believes in harnessing the enduring wisdom of faith traditions to support innovative approaches to global problems and building resilience for social change work. He shares his experiences as a keynote speaker and presenter and convenes spaces for faith and secular groups to engage constructively on issues of common concern.