Graduating from Imperial College London, Atula spent four years working as a civil engineer before deciding that his true vocation was very different world of financial services. Retraining and qualifying as a chartered accountant he joined Morgan Stanley where he developed his interest and expertise in the newly emerging field specialised area of risk management. As his career developed he moved to other blue chip financial organisations, including Fidelity and Lazard, with increasing responsibility for defining risk framework for business. For the past nine years, Atula has been a senior risk officer at Cazenove Capital. Highly respected by colleagues he is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of International Bankers and was, in 2011, awarded the Freedom of the City of London.

Throughout his career, Atula has always been passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience with young people and his book “What’s the small idea” shows entrepreneurs how innovation and business risk management can work together in the real world. Atula is a Professor of Practice (Risk Management) at Imperial College London and teaches business risk management to second and third year civil engineering students. In recognition of his remarkable commitment to young people, teaching and mentoring, and outstanding career, the City & Guilds Institute Council conferred Fellowship on 8 June 2017 at St James’s Palace by the HRH Princess Royal.
A passionate exponent of micro businesses and their importance in driving the economy and public sector, he has mentored start-ups in the engineering and high-tech sectors.