Professor Gary C Wood PhD is a National Teaching Fellow and Senior Fellow of Advance HE, and a senior academic leader in learning, teaching and educational transformation. He is Academic Director of NMITE, where he leads the design and delivery of distinctive approaches to engineering education through challenge‑led, industry‑linked programmes and block‑delivery pedagogy, alongside oversight of academic quality, Registry, and student services. His work focuses on developing student capability through applied learning, and on designing high‑quality educational systems that connect academic study to professional practice and deliver strong graduate outcomes. He also contributes to regional skills development, drawing on expertise in employability, professional skills, and entrepreneurship education.