Gill Hicks
Encyclopedia
Dr Gill Hicks, MBE
FRSA (born Adelaide
, South Australia
) is the founder of London
-based not-for-profit M.A.D for Peace
, and a motivational speaker
, author, curator, and trustee for several cultural organisations. She began her career as a speaker in the wake of the 7 July 2005 London bombings
: Hicks was the last living victim rescued. Both her legs were amputated below the knee, and her injuries were so severe that she was initially not expected to live. She was admitted to St Thomas' Hospital
without an identity - she was labelled only as ‘One Unknown’.
, Director of the multi-disciplinary design and publishing group Dangerous Minds, and Head of Curation at the UK’s Design Council
. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
, Trustee of the Women's Playhouse Trust, Trustee of the Architecture Foundation and an Advisor to Psychology Beyond Borders.
In 2006 Hicks was appointed Ambassador for Peace Direct
(Best New Charity 2005), and in 2007 was made an Advocate for Leonard Cheshire Disability
. Her first book, One Unknown, was shortlisted for the Mind Book of the Year 2007. In 2008, she carried the Olympic torch in Canberra
.
She is well-known for her inspirational talks and seminars with many organisations in the UK and Australia including charities, the health service, the police and emergency services, city institutions, schools, community and faith groups.
for her services to charity in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2008-09, and became both Australian of the Year in the UK and Australian Woman of the Year in the UK for 2009. That year she was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy from London Metropolitan University
in recognition of her outstanding contribution to architecture and design, and her work in promoting the importance of establishing sustainable peace.
Her work as a peacemaker was most recently acknowledged when in March 2010 she became recipient of the Iman Wa Amal Special Judges Award at the 10th Annual Muslim News Awards for Excellence.
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
FRSA (born Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
) is the founder of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based not-for-profit M.A.D for Peace
M.A.D for Peace
M.A.D for Peace is a not-for-profit organisation based in London, England, which has one main focus - communicating to the general public the importance of our individual responsibility in creating a world in which extreme conflict and its human consequences are ended.-Background:M.A.D for Peace...
, and a motivational speaker
Motivational speaker
A motivational speaker or inspirational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. In a business context, they are employed to communicate company strategy with clarity and help employees to see the future in a positive light and inspire workers to pull...
, author, curator, and trustee for several cultural organisations. She began her career as a speaker in the wake of the 7 July 2005 London bombings
7 July 2005 London bombings
The 7 July 2005 London bombings were a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks in the United Kingdom, targeting civilians using London's public transport system during the morning rush hour....
: Hicks was the last living victim rescued. Both her legs were amputated below the knee, and her injuries were so severe that she was initially not expected to live. She was admitted to St Thomas' Hospital
St Thomas' Hospital
St Thomas' Hospital is a large NHS hospital in London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It has provided health care freely or under charitable auspices since the 12th century and was originally located in Southwark.St Thomas' Hospital is accessible...
without an identity - she was labelled only as ‘One Unknown’.
Activities
Hicks has lived in London since 1992. She is former Publishing Director of the architecture, design and contemporary culture magazine BlueprintBlueprint (architecture magazine)
Blueprint is an architecture and design magazine that has been published in the UK on a monthly basis since 1983.It offers a mix of criticism, news and feature writing on design and architecture, directed at professionals and non-professionals alike....
, Director of the multi-disciplinary design and publishing group Dangerous Minds, and Head of Curation at the UK’s Design Council
Design Council
The Design Council is a United Kingdom non-departmental public body incorporated by Royal Charter and registered as a charity.Registered charity number 272099.- In the beginning :The Design Council started in 1944 as the Council of Industrial Design...
. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
, Trustee of the Women's Playhouse Trust, Trustee of the Architecture Foundation and an Advisor to Psychology Beyond Borders.
In 2006 Hicks was appointed Ambassador for Peace Direct
Peace Direct
Peace Direct is a charity based in London, England which supports grassroots peacebuilders in areas of conflict. Peace Direct focuses on supporting grassroots peacebuilders who are local to the conflict and have a clear vision of what needs to be achieved. Peace Direct funds this work, promotes it...
(Best New Charity 2005), and in 2007 was made an Advocate for Leonard Cheshire Disability
Leonard Cheshire Disability
Leonard Cheshire Disability is a major health and welfare charity in the United Kingdom, founded in 1948 by RAF pilot Leonard Cheshire VC.In 2006–7 it had a total expenditure of £143 million, placing it in the top 30 of UK charities.-History:...
. Her first book, One Unknown, was shortlisted for the Mind Book of the Year 2007. In 2008, she carried the Olympic torch in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
.
She is well-known for her inspirational talks and seminars with many organisations in the UK and Australia including charities, the health service, the police and emergency services, city institutions, schools, community and faith groups.
Awards
She was honoured with an MBEMBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
for her services to charity in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2008-09, and became both Australian of the Year in the UK and Australian Woman of the Year in the UK for 2009. That year she was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy from London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University , located in London, England, was formed on 1 August 2002 by the amalgamation of the University of North London and the London Guildhall University . The University has campuses in the City of London and in the London Borough of Islington.The University operates its...
in recognition of her outstanding contribution to architecture and design, and her work in promoting the importance of establishing sustainable peace.
Her work as a peacemaker was most recently acknowledged when in March 2010 she became recipient of the Iman Wa Amal Special Judges Award at the 10th Annual Muslim News Awards for Excellence.
See also
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/3324338/I-wasnt-dancing-in-the-face-of-death.-I-was-just-on-my-way-to-work.html
- Gill Hicks and Peace Direct: What you can do for peace (YouTube)
- Gill Hicks and Peace Direct: "You can. Doves can't." (YouTube)
- Gill Hicks speaks at the Young Muslims Advisory Group
- http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/bombing-survivor-to-help-fire-victims/story-e6frf7jo-1225697207669
- http://www.emel.com/article?id=74&a_id=2068
- http://www.channel4.com/programmes/4thoughttv/episode-guide/series-1/episode-1