John Bird MBE
Founder and editor-in-chief of The Big Issue

John Bird, was a poor boy, orphan, thief, inmate, artist and poet before going on to found the ground-breaking social initiative that is The Big Issue. He was born shortly after the Second World War to a London-Irish family into slum-ridden Notting Hill. Homelessness, orphanages, crime and prison characterised much of his early life until his metamorphosis into a successful small businessman occurred in the 1980s.

Since setting up The Big Issue magazine and foundation to help the homeless help themselves some seventeen years ago, John has become an authority on motivation and the ascendancy to achievement. Amongst the places he has spoken are the UN in New York, Nairobi and Istanbul, Downing Street and Buckingham Palace. The UN Scroll of Honour, an MBE and the 2005/6 Beacon Prize for Creative Giving are just three of the many accolades and awards he has received. Since the inception of The Big Issue in 1991, John has overseen its development into the UK's most successful social enterprise, stretching from Tokyo to Totnes and helping thousands of homeless people worldwide.

John's latest venture is called Wedge Card, a loyalty card aimed at revitalising the local high street. The card gives shoppers discounts at hundreds of independent businesses as well as raising money for local charities.

His autobiography "Some Luck", published by Penguin is a fantastic explanation of much of John’s lack of fortune, misfortune and his ascendancy out of the vulgar life of crime to social engineering. In March 2007 he took part to the Quick Reads campaign and wrote the best selling book ‘How to change your life in 7 steps’.

Bird has spoken at some of the following places:

The UN in New York, Nairobi and Istanbul
At Number ten Downing Street
Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre, Westminster.
Buckingham Palace,
The Society of Actuaries dinner
Countless after dinner speeches for charities, clubs etc

Bird's major role now is coming up with new business ideas. He also speaks at business forums, in prisons, to police officers, corporate and professional bodies, from a small group to a large conference.

"I always try and explain that you have to be businesslike in whatever work you are doing. Even if it is giving services to the poor you have to think about delivery, levels of services, and the products you are selling.

I earned my MBE by creating The Big Issue, probably the biggest social business in the world. We have publications and offices throughout Europe, The Americas and in Africa, as well as in Australia. From St Petersburg to Johannesburg, The Big Issue magic has worked wonders. From Buenos Aires to Belfast, it has given homeless people work and money.

I have spoken in City Hall in downtown Los Angeles, In San Quentin Prison, in the conference rooms of the biggest businesses in Britain. I have spoken in the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and Number Ten, to Prime Ministers and ministers, mayors and business leaders. I have spoken to Princes and Queens, pop stars, football stars and ambassadors.

I have spoken at Scotland Yard, the UN, and at Rotary clubs and local councils. I have talked to leaders from Margaret Thatcher and Norman Tebbitt to Jesse Jackson and Lord Moody Stewart, head of Shell. I have inspired South London Social workers on the front line and Swedish Bankers who are worried about the bottom line.

These audiences welcome me because I speak clearly and powerfully and my message is simple: It is about motivation, drive, learning from your mistakes, and turning rejection into something positive. I have been homeless, an offender, an addict and am now a revolutionary bundle of energy that helps people to realize their goals. Now I know the poor and the rich. I know the powerful and the powerless.

I am an honorary doctor of letters from the business school at Oxford Brookes University, a fellow of the University of Liverpool John Moores and I have a degree from the Thames Valley University. I have written my autobiography for Penguin, published as a paperback in November 2003.

Yet I am modest! I live modestly. I take as much interest in the local PTA as I do to the biggest businesses I have had dealings with.

If you are looking for a motivating, positive, thoughtful, informative, joyful speaker I advise you to get hold of me. If for any reason your guests are not satisfied then there is a no quibble money back guarantee. And that's no joke.

Dr John Bird, MBE BA Hons."

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