Patrick Dixon (born 1957) is an author and business consultant, often described as a futurist, and chairman of the trends forecasting company Global Change Ltd.Ciaran Parker, ''The Thinkers 50''. Praeger Publishers, 2005. He is also founder of the international AIDS agency ACET and Chairman of the ACET International Alliance. In 2005, he was ranked as one of the 20 most influential business thinkers alive according to the ''Thinkers 50'' (a private survey printed in 'The Times'). Dixon was also included in the '' Independent on Sundays 2010 " Happy List", regarding ACET and his other work tackling the stigma of AIDS.

Medical career

Patrick Dixon studied Medical Sciences at King's College, Cambridge and continued medical training at Charing Cross Hospital, London. In 1978, while a medical student, he founded the IT startup Medicom, selling medical software solutions in the UK and the Middle East, based on early personal computers. After qualifying as a physician, he cared for people dying of cancer at

St Joseph's Hospice ST, St, or St. may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Stanza, in poetry * Suicidal Tendencies, an American heavy metal/hardcore punk band * Star Trek, a science-fiction media franchise * Summa Theologica, a compendium of Catholic philosophy an ...

and then as part of the Community Care Team based at University College Hospital, London, while also continuing IT consulting part-time. In 1988 he launched the AIDS charity ACET, following the publication of his first book ''The Truth about AIDS'', which warned of an unfolding catastrophe that has since hit many nations in

sub-Saharan Africa Sub-Saharan Africa is, geographically, the area and regions of the continent of Africa that lies south of the Sahara. These include West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, and Southern Africa. Geopolitically, in addition to the List of sov ...

. ACET grew rapidly, providing home care services across London and other parts of the UK, and a national sex education programme in schools which reached more than 450,000 students. Dixon no longer practices as a physician but remains actively involved as Chairman of the ACET International Alliance. This is now a network of independent national AIDS care and prevention programmes, sharing the same name and values, active in 23 countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Trends analysis, business consulting and writing

Patrick Dixon now advises large corporations in many different industries on trends,

strategy Strategy (from Greek στρατηγία ''stratēgia'', "art of troop leader; office of general, command, generalship") is a general plan to achieve one or more long-term or overall goals under conditions of uncertainty. In the sense of the "art ...

, risk management and opportunities for innovation, giving

keynote A keynote in public speaking is a talk that establishes a main underlying theme. In corporate or commercial settings, greater importance is attached to the delivery of a keynote speech or keynote address. The keynote establishes the framework fo ...

s to thousands of business leaders at corporate events each year. Since the 1990s Dixon has written 15 books covering a wide range of issues and macro-trends, including social media, multichannel marketing, consumer shifts, demographics, rise of emerging economies, health care, biotechnology, social issues,

sustainability Specific definitions of sustainability are difficult to agree on and have varied in the literature and over time. The concept of sustainability can be used to guide decisions at the global, national, and individual levels (e.g. sustainable livi ...

, politics and

business ethics Business ethics (also known as Corporate Ethics) is a form of applied ethics or professional ethics, that examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that can arise in a business environment. It applies to all aspects of business co ...

. ''Futurewise'', first published in 1998, uses the word FUTURE as a mnemonic standing for "Six Faces of the Future," which will impact every large business: Fast, Urban, Tribal, Universal, Radical and Ethical. Dixon is optimistic about the capacity of human innovation to solve complex challenges:

This millennium will witness the greatest challenges to human survival that we have ever seen, and many of them will face us in the early years of the first century. It will also provide us with science and technology beyond our greatest imaginings and the greatest shift in values for over 50 years. ''Futurewise'', page xi

''Building a Better Business'', published in 2005, describes a new approach to leadership, management, marketing, teams, brands, customer relations, innovation, strategy, corporate governance and values. The book applies lessons from volunteering and non-profit organisations in motivating and inspiring many people to achieve great things. In it, Dixon argues that all successful leadership derives from an appeal to a common desire for a better future—for customers, workers,

shareholder A shareholder (in the United States often referred to as stockholder) of a corporation is an individual or legal entity (such as another corporation, a body politic, a trust or partnership) that is registered by the corporation as the legal own ...

s and

communities A community is a Level of analysis, social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as place (geography), place, Norm (social), norms, religion, values, Convention (norm), customs, or Identity (social science), identity. Communiti ...

. He attacks the "dangerous" obsession with shareholder value in many global corporations: ''Sustainagility'', published in 2010 and co-authored by Johan Gorecki, describes green technology and innovations across a wide range of industries, which Dixon believes will help to transform and protect the world.

Personal life

Dixon is married to Sheila, with four grown-up children, including the pop artist Paul Dixon (known as Fyfe, previously David's Lyre), and lives in London, where the family is active in the local church and community life.

Works

Patrick Dixon publishes video messages on his web TV site. He claims over 15 million viewers, and YouTube shows over 5 million video views on his channel there.

Books

''The Thinkers 50'' noted Dixon's relaxed attitude to his own intellectual capital, in that he makes much of it available from the Global Change website without charge. *''The Truth about AIDS'' – Kingsway / ACET International Alliance 1987, 1989, 1994, new edition 2004 *''AIDS and Young People'' – Kingsway 1989 *''AIDS and You'' – Kingsway / ACET Int. All. 1990, 2004 *''The Genetic Revolution'' – Kingsway 1993, 1995 *''The Rising Price of Love'' – Kingsway 1994 *''Signs of Revival'' – Kingsway 1994, 1995 *''Out of the Ghetto'' – Word 1995 *''The Truth about Westminster'' – Kingsway 1995 *''The Truth about Drugs'' – Hodder 1996 *'' Cyberchurch'' – Kingsway 1996 *''Futurewise'' – HarperCollins 1998, 2001, Profile Books 2003, reprinted 2004, 2005, 4th edition 2007 *''Island of Bolay'' – HarperCollins 2000 – thriller *''Building a Better Business'' – Profile Books 2005 *''Sustainagility'' – Kogan Page 2010 *''Salt in the Blood: Two Philosophers Go to Sea'' – Bloomsbury 2021

Selected articles

*Wake up to stronger tribes and a longer life – Financial TimesWake up to stronger tribes and a longer life
''Financial Times'', 31 October 2005

References

External links

* *http://pdixon.blogspot.com – blog comment on recent events * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dixon, Patrick 20th-century English writers British non-fiction writers British thriller writers Futurologists British business theorists British businesspeople Business speakers Alumni of King's College, Cambridge 1957 births Living people HIV/AIDS activists Alumni of Charing Cross Medical School English male novelists Male non-fiction writers