Experience

Sports Diplomacy Alliance

• Australia
• International Trade and Development
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director - UK / Europe

  • Jan 2020 - Present

  Recent examples (not exhaustive) of major SDA consulting projects I have driven include: 1. Co-Program and Event Director, inaugural (1st) World Congress on Sport Diplomacy, Donostia-San Sebastian, Basque Country (Oct 2022 – July 2023). Program details: https://www.uik.eus/en/activity/challenges-opportunities-sports-diplomacy-21st-century Media coverage: https://nation.cymru/sport/wales-and-the-art-of-football-diplomacy/ (English) https://www.naiz.eus/eu/info/noticia/20230526/kirol-diplomaziaren-erronkak-aztertuko-dira-donostian-egingo-den-mundu-mailako-biltzarrean (Basque-Euskara) https://www.elcorreo.com/deportes/mas-deportes/mayores-expertos-mundo-participan-congreso-sobre-diplomacia-20230626163838-nt.html (Spanish-Español) 2. Team Wales-Cymru (Welsh Government, Welsh Arts International & Football Association of Wales) delegation lead and presenter at the inaugural (1st) World Congress on Sport Diplomacy, Donostia-San Sebastian, Basque Country (May 2023 – July 2023). Media coverage: https://twitter.com/walesintheworld/status/1673994753161981954?s=20 https://nation.cymru/sport/wales-and-the-art-of-football-diplomacy/ 3. Co-Program and Event Director of The 2023 Australia-UK Sports Diplomacy Dialogue. Delivered by Sports Diplomacy Alliance in partnership with The British Council, The Australian Government, and The University of Edinburgh (March, 2023). Event Summary: https://www.sportsdiplomacy.com/works/the-2023-australia-uk-sports-diplomacy-dialogue-the-return-leg/ 4. Author of the Post-Event Evaluation Report of The 2023 Australia-UK Sports Diplomacy Dialogue. Link to report available soon. 5. Expert guest and advisor on the Welsh Government in Canada podcast (produced by Podstarter) titled 'Soft Power Cymru', providing a 6 part series about Welsh sports diplomacy within the context of the enduring bilateral relalationship between Wales and Canada (Nov, 2022). Show less



ICR (International Cultural Relations) Ltd.

• Associate

  • Feb 2020 - Present

  Partnering with an expert team of highly experienced consultants, researchers and strategy professionals to help clients who work in international cultural relations with: - Strategy development - Strategic transformation design and delivery - Stakeholder mapping, engagement and partnerships - Advice on operating models and organisation design - Change management - Incorporating 10 Principles of the UN Global Compact into strategies, policies & procedures See: https://www.culturalrelations.co.uk/services and https://www.culturalrelations.co.uk/about Show less



Counsel

• United Kingdom
• Public Policy Offices
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Associate Consultant

  • Mar 2020 - Present

  Partnering with Director James Allen and an expert team of professional consultants and researchers on a range of contracts connected to sport, society, and relations. See: https://www.counselltd.com/ and https://www.counselltd.com/team Partnering with Director James Allen and an expert team of professional consultants and researchers on a range of contracts connected to sport, society, and relations. See: https://www.counselltd.com/ and https://www.counselltd.com/team



Bond University

• Australia
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• PhD Candidate (Scholarship) writing on Sports Diplomacy and Cultural Diplomacy

  • Dec 2019 - Present

• Co-Author & Project Manager: Towards a Welsh sports diplomacy Strategy

  • May 2019 - Present

  I am currently engaged as an independent consultant by the British Council Wales and in partnership with Dr Stuart Murray to undertake a research project on: 'Wales, sports diplomacy and the soft power of sport'. This work is also affiliated to our sports diplomacy research at Bond University, Australia.This project involves an audit and review of the nature, capacity and potential of Welsh sports diplomacy in addition to a series of focus groups and interviews. It brings together key sportspeople, administrators and organisations from across the Welsh sportscape, policy-makers from government agencies, academics and influencers in an in-depth dialogue on Welsh sports diplomacy. Our primary objectives and outputs are to:• Establish a shared understanding of sports diplomacy in the Welsh context; • Identify the relevance of sports diplomacy from multiple Welsh perspectives (eg. city, regional, national); • Support the international relations portfolio within the Welsh Government to leverage more from Wales’ impressive suite of soft power assets, particularly the opportunities afforded through the Welsh sportscape; and,• Inform the development of and deliver a final research report on Welsh sports diplomacy, including practical recommendations focused on maximising opportunities and benefits for Wales through the soft power of sport.This research will add to the British Council Wales soft power series, Imagining Wales’ Global Future, which includes the Wales Soft Power Barometer 2018 (British Council / Portland), in which sport is highlighted as a key area for recognition for Wales and the International Showcasing Strategy for the Arts of Wales (British Council / Visiting Arts). Note: High level guidance on this project is provided by an Advisory Board of independent distinguished theorist practitioners. Show less

• Co-Author: Using sports diplomacy to score business outcomes in the Australia-Korea relationship

  • Sep 2020 - Nov 2020

  Co-authored a research report with Dr Stuart Murray in conjunction with the Australia-Korea Business Council (AKBC) titled 'Soft Power: Using sports diplomacy to score business outcomes in the Australia-Korea relationship'.



SOAS University of London

• United Kingdom
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Tutor: Sport and Diplomacy: 'More than a Game'

  • Jan 2021 - Jul 2023

  Partnering with Dr Simon Rofe as a tutor for the campus taught post-graduate masters level module titled: Sport and Diplomacy: 'More than a Game.' The module combines a number of my research interests and specialisms, including sports diplomacy, sports paradiplomacy, global diplomacy, international relations, regionalism, cultural relations, international sport, sport history and sport organisations. Partnering with Dr Simon Rofe as a tutor for the campus taught post-graduate masters level module titled: Sport and Diplomacy: 'More than a Game.' The module combines a number of my research interests and specialisms, including sports diplomacy, sports paradiplomacy, global diplomacy, international relations, regionalism, cultural relations, international sport, sport history and sport organisations.



Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

• United Kingdom
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Lead: MENA, Western Balkans, Eastern Europe & Central Asian countries, Global Trade Negotiations

  • Mar 2018 - Nov 2019

  I operated as a Lead in the Global Trade Negotiations, European Union and International Trade directorate with a specific focus on trade continuity for the UK post EU exit. As a team, we are tasked with ensuring that current EU-Third country free trade agreements are transitioned by the UK and third countries post EU exit. Our core focus relates to transitioning country Agreements stemming from the Middle East North Africa (MENA), Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and Central Asian regions. We undertake this work in direct partnership with other Trade Agreement Continuity Leads, Trade and Policy specialists and Diplomatic staff from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), Department for International Trade (DIT) and a wide spectrum of other cross-Whitehall government agencies. This role also required me to collaborate with other Leads and Directors to further develop capability and capacity across the wider GTN team and EUIT directorate and contribute to improving the UK Government's fast evolving cadre of international trade professionals. Show less

• Tutor: International Security and Global Citizenship & Advocacy

  • Oct 2016 - May 2019

  I am currently a Tutor for the Master of Arts in Global Diplomacy modules in 'International Security' and 'Global Citizenship and Advocacy'. This course is a flagship international program at SOAS with a multinational intake. Numerous students operate in the diplomatic service of national governments or within the international sector (for example, United Nations system, European Union, International NGOs, Think Tanks and international organisations such as the OECD, World Bank, World Economic Forum, NATO, OSCE, ASEAN etc). Connected to this role, I am also a primary supervisor for students developing final dissertation research papers on themes connected to Sports and Cultural Diplomacy, Soft Power and International Trade. Show less



British Council - UK’s international organisation for cultural relations & educational opportunities

• HR Business Partner

  • Sep 2016 - May 2017

  The British Council is an international organisation with over 8,000 staff across 110 countries. I supported the English and Exams strategic business unit to implement an ambitious strategy for 2020. Specifically, I operated as a business partner to the UK Exams team and project managed a displacement and redundancy process for a cohort of displaced staff returning from a variety of international postings. This process included formulation of the project strategy, managing complex employee relations issues and individual case management, formal consultation with unions and affected staff, redeployment and outplacement support, change management and communication streams. Show less



Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)

• Australia
• Education Administration Programs
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Project Manager, Organisational Review & HR Program Manager

  • Feb 2013 - Aug 2016

  As the recently incepted national regulator for Australia’s vocational education and training sector, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) ensures students, employers and national and international governments have full confidence in the quality of vocational education and training outcomes delivered by Australian registered training organisations. This role manages a small team of HR professionals tasked with providing the full spectrum of end to end HR services to leadership and staff across a geographically dispersed organisation with offices in all Australian States and Territories. Given ASQA's status as a new entity, this is a business critical role which builds and enhances ASQA's overall HR capacity and service value proposition in a rapidly evolving operating environment. Show less



Department of Human Services, Victoria, Australia

• Principal Business Partner, Organisational Development

  • Feb 2010 - Jan 2013

  The role partners with executive management, supervisors and HR practitioners across the department to develop and deliver client focussed HR/OD solutions that support the delivery of key business outcomes. It plays a key leadership role in the development of strategic people management activities to underpin the department’s strategic direction. Gavin drove a suite of projects to support the ‘One DHS Organisational Transformation Program’, including: • Implementing a professional change support program for managers as they experience significant personal change whilst being expected to lead and drive the implementation of a proposed new departmental operating model; • Embedding a new Client Services Charter into HR systems, policies and processes at all points of the department's employee life cycle; and,• Coordinating the roll out (including communications strategy) of the 2013 DHS Organisational Culture Survey (staff engagement, culture, norms, systems of work, leadership etc) to provide a baseline for organisational culture in order to drive HR and business planning for 2011-2014.Gavin played a key role in shaping the department's contemporary HR agenda and operating framework, including driving the inception and implementation of a new HR Business Partner function. Show less

• Manager, HR Policy, Practice and Planning Unit

  • Oct 2009 - Feb 2010

  Reporting to the Director, Human Resources, the role managed a team of specialist consultants (approx 4 staff) to drive the development and implementation of the department’s overall HR policy framework and strategic Employee Relations (ER) planning requirements.Responsibilities:• Leading the implementation of Extended & Varied VPS 2006 Certified Agreement (core employment conditions)• Responding to the Ombudsman’s recommendations on sensitive ER issues• Providing strategic and technical ER advice to executive and HR managers• Mentoring managers to build greater understanding of the HR policy framework• Managing complex investigations relating to high risk and sensitive ER casesAchievements:Successfully leading a strategic review of more than 200+ HR and related policies (covering 10,000+ staff) for compliance with the Victorian Public Sector employment terms and conditions, the Australian Government's Fair Work Act and needs of the business. Show less

• Senior HR Consultant (Secondment), Bushfire Recovery Services Unit (BRSU)

  • May 2009 - Sep 2009

  Reporting to the Director, BRSU to develop and deliver an induction, orientation and ongoing learning and development program (including performance management framework) for a group of specialised staff employed by the Victorian Government to lead the regeneration of bushfire affected communities across regional Victoria. The role also required the strategic occupational health and safety analysis of 13 temporary worksites erected across remote areas of regional Victoria as one-stop community service and regeneration centres for bushfire affected communities.• Project managing the HR/ER start up logistics for a new disaster recovery unit• Delivering training for managers and staff across all HR activities• Recruiting highly specialised staff to drive the bushfire recovery process• Partnering with Federal Agencies to leverage HR support and resources Show less


European Central Bank
• Germany
• Banking
• 700 & Above Employee
• HR Business Partner (Expert)

  • Nov 2008 - Apr 2009
• Principal Business Partner, Employee Relations

  • Jan 2007 - Oct 2008

University of Melbourne
• Australia
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee
• Senior HR Policy Consultant

  • Mar 2005 - Jan 2007

Australian National University
• Australia
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee
• Employment Strategies Consultant

  • Oct 2002 - Mar 2005