Bradford philanthropist awarded MBE
Dr Manoj Joshi DL, a Ugandan-born refugee who came to the UK aged 21, has been recognised for his voluntary work during the pandemic in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Dr Joshi, 70, a retired pharmacist, can now add the title MBE to his many accolades, which include an honorary doctorate from the University of Bradford.
As a pharmacist, he began his career as a laboratory technician in a small manufacturing chemist and joined Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI Pharmaceuticals) in 1979. He retired after 27 years as business development manager for AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals.
A Rotarian with over 50 years “Service Above Self” and elected district governor for Rotary International for Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire, he has been involved in charitable activities all his life, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.
On his award, Dr Joshi says: “I’m humbled there are many more people who perhaps do more than I do. I consider the recognition an opportunity for me to do more. It’s an opportunity for me to open doors for others to be able to do more.
“I dedicate the award to all the people who enabled me to do what I want to do, assisted me, blessed me and supported me. I give them the largest share of the credit.”
Upcoming charitable work includes his appointment as chairman of the Bradford Economic Forum. He says he plans to use this appointment to harness the potential of young talent, vibrancy and energy in the UK’s youngest city to help deliver a strategic plan for growth in Bradford.
“We want to make Bradford, as UK City of Culture 2025, a place where everybody benefits, whatever their background or status. Everybody should have a fair chance and an equal playing field. This is a great opportunity to deliver some of the transformational changes the city needs, so that it can realise its full potential. My role is just to enable people to achieve their potential, to set their aspirations higher.”