Dr Alison Thompson has deployed over 30,000 volunteers to the world’s worst disaster zones – bringing humanitarian assistance and medical aid to over 18 million people.
It started on September 11, 2001, when as an investment banker, Alison rushed to New York’s World Trade Centre with her first aid kit. She stayed nine months, offering disaster relief arm-in-arm with ordinary, like-minded people.
Galvanising grassroots momentum, Alison founded Third Wave Volunteers – a global movement of first responder volunteers who bring relief to the world’s disaster and war zones, including Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka. Following the 2004 tsunami, she set up the first Tsunami Early-Warning Centre and education museum which continues to thrive.
By mobilising everyday people, Alison is building resilience in local communities through sustainable, locally driven disaster prevention and recovery.
Drawing from her upbringing as a pastor’s child, Alison believes that each person’s small skills add up to drive big changes.