Gerry McDonald is Deputy Chair of our Board.
Gerry became Principal of Tower Hamlets College in April 2013 following almost four years as the college’s Vice Principal. Following mergers with Hackney Community College and Redbridge College, he became Group Principal and CEO of the combined New City College in April 2017. He subsequently led the Group’s mergers with Epping Forest College, Havering College of Higher and Further Education and Havering Sixth Form College.
Gerry is a qualified business studies teacher who has worked in the sector since 1993. He holds business degrees from the University of West of England and Aston and a PGCE from Manchester Metropolitan University. Gerry has worked in sixth form and further education colleges in Birmingham and London, leading on business development, mergers, curriculum improvement, inspection and culture change.
Gerry is a co-opted committee member of Association of Colleges London following his election to the main AoC board in December 2014, and was co-opted to the main board for a further two years in December 2020. He also serves on the AoC’s National Employment and Audit Committees.
In addition to his AoC membership, Gerry is also Vice Chair of The Switch (previously known as TowerHamlets Educational Business Partnership), and chair of their Finance Committee, as well as a member of the GLA’s Skills for Londoners board.