Ken Wilder worked for eleven years with Hamish Hamilton, London. He then served as Chairman and Managing Director of William Collins, Australia, from 1961 to 1985. Following his retirement, Wilder made extended visits to Italy to study Italian language and literature. Wilder was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1995 in recognition for his services to the publishing industry.
Source: Ken Wilder, I, Aretino : Scourge of Princes, 1492-1556 (1997).