About
wwwfreeforumofideas.com is owned by John Hawkey.
Early days
John Hawkey is a businessman and entrepreneur. He began his career in the UK with Longmans Green in 1968, after completing a degree in English Literature. Following this, he worked in educational publishing with Longmans in Africa and England.

Australia
In 1976 he returned to academia, studying law and qualified as a barrister in 1979. In 1981 he emigrated to Australia where he worked in insolvency and reconstruction. John completed a masters degree in Commerce in 1984 in Sydney. Subsequently, he started his own business Buckmaster Hawkey Pty Ltd in corporate consulting in 1986.
The UK
He returned to the UK in 1999 where he continued in business consulting providing recovery, debt management and exit planning services. Following this, in 2002/3 he wrote two books on exit planning. These were published by Gower Publishing and How to Books. Subsequently, one of the books was published under license in China.
John started Debt Solutions Southwest Ltd and Claims Solutions Southwest Ltd in 2007, providing personal debt advice and claims management services, respectively.
In 2020 John set up http://www.freeforumofideas.com an on-line business forum and resource centre.
Seminars and lectures
John has been involved extensively in providing seminars and lectures on many business-related topics. These topics include business startup, turnaround, exit planning and business valuations. He has also provided financial advice to a wide range of business organisations and educational establishments.
John has worked in the Spin-Out programme at Leeds University. Subsequently, he part wrote and presented the Business Startup course for Businesslink in Somerset.
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
B.A. (Hons) – Univ. of Wales
Dip.Law – City University, London
M.Comm – Univ. of New South Wales
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Barrister at Law – UK
Certified Practicing Accountant – Australia
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Fellow Australian Society of CPAs
Member Middle Temple (London)