Rachel Lopata

Rachel has 20 years of varied experience in market and social research. She has extensive quantitative and qualitative research experience having worked at Director level for two major market research agencies, ORC International and Opinion Leader Research, before setting up her own consultancy, Community Research. She also worked for six years in a local government policy and research role.

Whilst broadly experienced in a range of research approaches, Rachel’s particular area of expertise is deliberative events. She has developed, designed managed and facilitated some of the most high profile deliberative research and consultation exercises ever seen in the UK including the National Pensions Debate, The Prince of Wales' Business Summit on Climate Change and Sky’s ‘The Bigger Conversation’.

Her recent clients include a number of local authorities and health trusts as well as Arts Council England. She recently helped Leicestershire County Council to develop their approach to participatory budgeting, in which she also takes a keen interest.