Gary is a strong leader with over 30 years of management experience gained while serving in the challenging environments of the British and Australian Army. He is an advocate for justice for all and has a deep connection to the Indigenous peoples of Australia. Committed to striving for excellence, he holds integrity, honesty, courage, and respect as core values.

Born in 1967 and raised in Richmond, North Yorkshire, England, Gary left school at the age of 16 to enlist in the British Army as an Apprentice Engineer. He spent the next 24 years working around the world, participating in operations such as Desert Storm, Bosnia, Kosovo, the Gulf War (Iraq), and Afghanistan. In 2009, he completed a lateral transfer to the Australian Defence Force in Darwin.

Witnessing the discord between Australian soldiers and the Indigenous population, Gary left the Army and became a Housemaster at Kormilda College. In this role, he was instrumental in improving the lives of young Indigenous Australians and spent seven years as the Assistant Head of the boarding program.

Following this, he worked briefly as a corrections officer at the Darwin Correctional Centre but left due to the inability to effect change regarding the treatment of Indigenous prisoners. As a Team Leader for a Darwin-based NDIS provider, he oversaw 11 SIL houses and managed 99 staff, positively impacting the lives of people with disabilities through his leadership and mentoring skills. Always seeking the next challenge, Gary accepted a position as Team Leader at the newly opened YMCA drop-in center in Palmerston for youth aged 10 to 17. After spending six months developing policies, procedures, and training staff, he was invited to take on the role of Director of Operations with United NT Disability Services.