Jamaican media practitioner Yvonne Wilks-O’Grady has been named amongst these acknowledged by King Charles’ 2024 New Year Honours list.
Wilks-O’Grady will obtain an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her providers to media, publishing, and charity.
Additionally amongst this 12 months’s honorees are Recreation of Thrones star Emilia Clarke, director Ridley Scott, British singer Leona Lewis, and Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis.
The Order of the British Empire was established by King George V in 1917 to honor those that had served in a non-combative position and to reward contributions to the humanities, sciences, charitable work, and public service. The order is comprised of 5 courses throughout each navy and civilian divisions.
The Officer of the Order of the British Empire is awarded to individuals in a distinguished regional or county-wide position in any subject, by means of achievement or service to the neighborhood together with notable practitioners identified nationally. It’s the second highest-ranking Order of the British Empire award.
Lengthy-standing media profession in Jamaica and UK
Wilks-O’Grady has labored for a number of a long time in media in Jamaica and the UK.
After incomes a level from the College of Westminster, Wilks-O’Grady began her media profession within the U.Okay. in 1984, working with a number of publications, together with Honey Journal, Reader’s Digest Affiliation, and the Voice Media Group, in line with her LinkedIn profile.
After she returned dwelling to Jamaica in 1998, she spearheaded the transformation of Radio Jamaica into the RJR Communications Group. She was additionally instrumental in relaunching JBC/Tremendous Supreme TV as Tv Jamaica.
Wilks-O’Grady served as Director of Advertising and marketing at RJR Communications Group till March of 2005, when she took on the position of Deputy Managing Director on the UK’s Voice Media Group.
She is taken into account a pioneer within the media trade, having co-founded Root Journal and contributed to publications like The Weekly Journal, Pleasure Journal, Readers Digest, and TV Information, amongst others.
She presently serves as a guide for company affairs on the RJR/Gleaner Group, her LinkedIn profile acknowledged.
As for charitable works, Yvonne Wilks-O’Grady served as a member of the board Of administrators of Genesis Academy in Kingston, a secondary faculty for kids with disabilities/particular academic wants. She returned from the board in 2013 resulting from her busy journey schedule however nonetheless maintains a dedication to the college.
She was additionally an advisor for the Maxfield Park Kids’s Residence in Jamaica and raised funds whereas within the U.Okay.
