An East Yorkshire woman who helped governments tackle challenges including pandemics, terrorism, corruption, war crimes and modern slavery was awarded an MBE for services to international trade.
Helen Gibson, of Hessle, the Managing Director of Agencia, who has exported British public service expertise to over 20 countries including Afghanistan, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Kenya and Malaysia.
Helen said: “What we are doing is working to transform lives by improving health and justice, two of the most precious commodities in the world.
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“Our international work is about trying to reduce conflict and increase stability and security – a lot of the problems in the world at the moment are trans-national such as terrorism, corruption, cyber-crime, pandemics, migration. The world is actually a small place and the undermining of democracy, security and governance is what we are working to prevent.
“Where people don’t have confidence in the government, the justice system and the economic environment to be able to invest and prosper it can all create real problems with civil unrest and lack of future prospects such as employment opportunities.”
While she does not know the source of her nomination, she said she is surprised and delighted to receive such a prestigious award recognising the significance of Agencia’s international achievements.
Following the footsteps of her father and grandfather, Helen attributes her success to her family and colleagues for the parts they have played in earning the honour.
In addition to her parents, Helen has been heavily influenced by her grandfather, Alec McKay Gibson, a former prisoner of war in Burma’s Rangoon jail who later met the Queen as he spoke at events about his experiences in the war with the Chindits and the Gurkhas.
Helen said: “He did a lot of work with the war widows of men who never came home. My Dad and Grandad showed great integrity, leadership and resilience and it’s those attributes that have passed down through the years in terms of overcoming some very difficult challenges and hurdles.
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“I was amazed – I never expected to get something like this. I just think back to my Dad and all the work that he did and how pleased he would have been.
“He would have been more deserving, as would my Grandad, so this is for them, our international team and everybody who has supported Agencia.”
Agencia’s work in health and social care, which includes the delivery across the UK of addiction services and projects to transform GP practices and primary care networks through its Primary Care Direct service, has also delivered internationally, such as providing support for the Ministry of Health in Tunisia on a new system for coding medical documentation.
The company was named Best Small Business in the UK at the National Family Business Awards in 2017 and has since been appointed by the Department of International Trade for three years running as a Northern Powerhouse Export Champion.
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