Jamaican media practitioner Yvonne Wilks-O’Grady has been named among those recognized by King Charles’ 2024 New Year Honours list.
Wilks-O’Grady will receive an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to media, publishing, and charity.
Also among this year’s honorees are Game 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 who had served in a non-combative role and to reward contributions to the arts, sciences, charitable work, and public service. The order is comprised of five classes across both military and civilian divisions.
The Officer of the Order of the British Empire is awarded to persons in a distinguished regional or county-wide role in any field, through achievement or service to the community including notable practitioners known nationally. It is the second highest-ranking Order of the British Empire award.
Long-standing media career in Jamaica and UK
Wilks-O’Grady has worked for several decades in media in Jamaica and the United Kingdom.
After earning a degree from the University of Westminster, Wilks-O’Grady started her media career in the U.K. in 1984, working with several publications, including Honey Magazine, Reader’s Digest Association, and the Voice Media Group, according to her LinkedIn profile.
After she returned home to Jamaica in 1998, she spearheaded the transformation of Radio Jamaica into the RJR Communications Group. She was also instrumental in relaunching JBC/Super Supreme TV as Television Jamaica.
Wilks-O’Grady served as Director of Marketing at RJR Communications Group until March of 2005, when she took on the role of Deputy Managing Director at the UK’s Voice Media Group.
She is considered a pioneer in the media industry, having co-founded Root Magazine and contributed to publications like The Weekly Journal, Pride Magazine, Readers Digest, and TV Guide, among others.
She currently serves as a consultant for corporate affairs at the RJR/Gleaner Group, her LinkedIn profile stated.
As for charitable works, Yvonne Wilks-O’Grady served as a member of the board Of directors of Genesis Academy in Kingston, a secondary school for children with disabilities/special educational needs. She returned from the board in 2013 due to her busy travel schedule but still maintains a commitment to the school.
She was also an advisor for the Maxfield Park Children’s Home in Jamaica and raised funds while in the U.K.
