ABOUT
Andrea Aviet was awarded a British Empire Medal in the New Year Honours List 2019 for her campaign against domestic violence and abuse. She shared her own experience in her book, White Sorrow, which was self-published and self-funded with the aim of giving other women inspiration to get out of abusive relationships.
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This year she has been recognised in the Top 100 Influential People 2024 who affect and impact society today as she prepares to officially launch her new media, arts and campaigning organisation to inspire women around the world with stories of hope through creative expression.
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In addition, Andrea has just been appointed as International Partner for the UK by the World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF), an affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI).
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As an author, inspirational speaker and media producer, Andrea is determined to help women around the world by sharing her story and experience through all means possible.
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In a recent press interview she said: "I know what it’s like. I went through hell. You end up blaming yourself and it’s too easy to remain trapped by the past even after escaping domestic abuse. I was determined to take back control of my life and I want to empower other women to do the same.
"Part of that journey for me was regaining self-respect, looking after myself. I found if I looked good, I felt good about myself and empowered to sort out my life and my finances.”
Andrea raised the profile of coercive control through self-financing and publishing a book about her experiences in 2016: White Sorrow charts her journey from a dream wedding that descended into a nightmare marriage of starvation and mental torture, only summoning the courage to escape her controlling husband when she feared for the safety of her two young children.
She adds: “The pandemic has been a dark time for many women either trapped in an abusive relationship or struggling to overcome the trauma while isolated from friends and relatives.”
Andrea has received numerous awards including a Lifetime Achievement Award, Fearless Award, Eagle Overcomer Award and Inspirational Woman Award. She has also been nominated for the Robert Burns Humanitarian Award Scotland, Forward Ladies (HSBC ) not for profit and social enterprise regional award. She is also LinkedIn Global Goodwill Ambassador for abused woman & children and has a Masters in Political Science (Honours).
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At the beginning of 2023 she was awarded the Freedom of the City of London in recognition of her work. The following March she organised a high ranking UK Parliamentary Panel to mark International Women's Day.
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Andrea has also spoken at many conferences and events, representing the UK in the Third World conference "World say no to domestic abuse" in Adelaide Australia, World Health Summit Germany, supported family law day in Newcastle ( Gordon Brown Solicitors), and worked with Salford University on gender mutilation, to mention a few.
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A short five minute campaigning film called "Don't Cry", in which Andrea plays herself, has been featuring in festivals and picking up awards around the world. It's based on her true story of abuse and survival and she hopes to go on to create a feature film and inspiring others to know they too can live free without shame.
