Giles Chichester was born on 29 July 1946 in London, UK. He was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford, and since 1969 he has worked in family business Francis Chichester Ltd (publishers of maps, guides and educational wallcharts), founded by his father Sir Francis Chichester KBE. Between July 1994 and June 2014 he was member of the European Parliament. During this period Chichester was member of the Group of the European People’s Party (Christian-Democratic Group), member of the Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats, member of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, Chair of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, Chair of the Delegation for relations with Australia and New Zealand, Vice-Chair of the Delegation for relations with the Pan-African Parliament, Vice-President of the European Parliament from July 2011 to January 2012. He was member of the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy, member of the Delegation for relations with Australia and New Zealand, member of the Subcommittee on Security and Disarmament, member of the Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy, member of the Committee on Fisheries, member of the Temporary committee on improving safety at sea, member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, member of the Conference of Committee Chairs, member of the Temporary committee on policy challenges and budgetary means of the enlarged Union 2007-2013, member of the Conference of Delegation Chairs, member of the Temporary Committee on Climate Change, member of the Committee on Petitions, member of the Delegation for relations with South Africa, member of the Delegation for relations with the Pan-African Parliament and member of the Parliament's Bureau.