University of Southampton – Director of Knowledge Exchange and Enterprise and Co-Director of the Leadership, Effective Education and Policy Research Centre in the Education School, Co-Chair of the University’s ESRC Impact Acceleration Account.

As a former officer in the Army’s Educational and Training Services Branch, Gary gained broad experience of leading vocational education and training.  This included drafting the MOD’s Skills Strategy, directing and expanding the Army Apprenticeships programme, the largest scheme in the country; and developing an innovative literacy and numeracy programme for soldiers that was commended in the House of Commons Inquiry into Adult Literacy and Numeracy, which he gave evidence to.  For his last four years of service he was the Director of his Branch and Director of Educational Capability, as a brigadier in the Army Headquarters; the Army’s lead for  policy, development and delivery across a wide range of provision. During this time, the Army was awarded the Adult Learners’ Week National Employer Award.

On leaving the Army, Gary spent five years in SKOPE, during which time he undertook a DPhil researching University-Business collaborations (knowledge exchange) across the University of Oxford to understand how these can best support effective learning.   As a member of SKOPE, he was also closely involved in UCL’s East London Vocational Education and Training (ELVET) Project, supporting transitions from education to work.  In his Southampton roles, he works with colleagues across the University to develop partnerships and viable pathways towards impact from research.  He is a co-founder of the Education School’s ‘Education Research Practice Network’ and leads modules on leadership in education at Masters and Bachelors levels.