Rianna Patterson

Rianna Patterson is the founder of the Dementia Foundation at 18 after the passing of her grandfather with dementia in Dominica. Rianna received the Queen’s Young Leader award by her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth ll in 2017 for her commitments to dementia activism. Rianna’s passion for dementia activism has taken her to international platforms such as the Commonwealth Secretariat and BBC One, inspiring young people to stand up for those affected by dementia. In recognition of her tireless efforts, Rianna received the Queen’s Young Leader award from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2017.

Rianna has impacted over 20,000 people, including 500 families and 500 school children, through her public speaking and advocacy efforts. Rianna has worked tirelessly to bring together decision-makers and key stakeholders on a regional and international level, all with the goal of promoting public health and dementia awareness.

Rianna also delivered a TEDx talk at the University of Kent on the Youth in Youth in 2018. Rianna graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kent in 2020 during the peak of COVID-19, where she was made homeless shortly after. After this, Rianna launched her own social good coaching and professional service business with the support of the Princes Trust Enterprise Programme. Rianna provides 1:1 coaching to purpose led organizations and individuals in the Caribbean and the UK.

Rianna is also committed to tackling ageism in the media, has successfully raised over £4000 to produce a documentary film on Dementia in the Caribbean that will include stories from people with Dementia and their families who originate from Dominica and Barbados, this film has received 4 film laureates and was recently screened at the Windrush Caribbean Film Festival at the Ritzy Cinema in London.

Ms. Patterson was invited to be speaker at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda by the Government of Rwanda in 2022, where she spoke on intergenerational relations and at the Alzheimer’s Disease International Asia Pacific Conference in Brunei.

Rianna’s dedication to humanitarian efforts has earned her the Diana Award, one of the highest accolades for humanitarian efforts. Ms. Patterson also received the Alzheimer’s Association Neuroscience Next Award at the University of Chicago in 2024 and the Commonwealth Youth Award for Development Excellence in the Caribbean region by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Rianna holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Kent and a master’s degree in dementia from the University College London (UCL).