Hawke Centre Occasional Lecture

One Unknown: facing death, choosing life

Dr Gill Hicks, 2009 UK Australia of the Year

Wednesday 6 April 2011

Adelaide Town Hall, 128 King William Street, Adelaide SA

 

The Hawke Centre proudly presents an Adelaide-born international hero.

Highly acclaimed peacemaker Gill Hicks was a survivor of the devastating July 2005 London terrorist attacks in which 52 people died.

She made world headlines as she courageously learned to walk again using prosthetic legs and dedicated her life to deterring anyone from following a course of violent action.

Her highly effective charitable organisation M.A.D. (Making a Difference) for Peacecommunicates through projects, talks and workshops core messages from her experience and encourages us to think of peace as a verb and something we can all 'do'.

Learn more about M.A.D.Nests at the Information Session on Tuesday 3 May.  

"Someone, somewhere is feeling the effects of something you have said or done, it is our responsibility to ensure that the choices we make are positive and constructive. If we can empathize then we can find lasting and sustainable peace."

Do not miss her story and the opportunity to ask questions.

Biography - Dr Gill Hicks, MBE FRSA

Gill Hicks, founder of charitable organisation M.A.D. for Peace (www.madforpeace.org), was severely injured in the London bombings, losing both legs below the knee. She is determined to do all she can to deter anyone from following a path of violent action and believes everyone can make a difference and create a peaceful world.

Originally from Adelaide, Gill has lived in London since 1992. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Trustee of the Women's Playhouse Trust and the Architectural Foundation, and an Advisor to Psychology Beyond Borders. Formally she was Publisher of Blueprint magazine, Director of Dangerous Minds and, at the time of the bombings, Head of Curation at the Design Council.

In 2008 carried the Olympic torch in Canberra, and walked from Leeds to London as part of WALKTALK, an initiative she co-devised to bring communities together. She has an MBE for Services to Charity; an Honorary Doctorate from London Metropolitan University in recognition of her outstanding contribution to design and for promoting the importance of establishing sustainable peace; and in 2009 was Australian of the Year in the UK and Australian Woman of the Year in the UK.

Gill's work as a peacemaker was most recently acknowledged when she became recipient of the Imam Wa Amal Special Judges Award at the 10th Annual Muslim News Awards for Excellence. This is granted to a person who draws their inspiration from the imperative to seek positive and meaningful change.

Her acclaimed book One Unknown was shortlisted for the Mind Book of the Year 2007 and is published by Rodale, part of PanMacmillan.

While the views presented by speakers within the Hawke Centre public program are their own and are not necessarily those of either the University of South Australia or The Hawke Centre, they are presented in the interest of open debate and discussion in the community and reflect our themes of:strengthening our democracy - valuing our diversity - and building our future.

The copying and reproduction of any transcripts within the Hawke Centre public program is strictly forbidden without prior arrangements.