Gerry McDonald CBE, Group Principal & CEO, New City College / AoC President
Gerry was appointed Principal and Chief Executive of New City College (previously Tower Hamlets College), in 2013. Under his leadership, he has successfully led the college through six mergers, establishing NCC as a sector-leading further education college.
Gerry has worked in the sector since 1993 and is a qualified Business teacher, remaining committed and continuing to teach NCC students on A level and vocational programmes.
A nationally recognised spokesperson and advocate for further education, Gerry is a serving college leader on the National Leaders for Further Education programme, led by the FE Commissioner. As well as being the current elected President and Board member of the Association of Colleges, Gerry is Deputy Chair of the Education and Training Foundation.
In recognition of his services to further education, Gerry McDonald was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2025 New Year Honours. He received an Honorary Doctorate, for his work in education, from Bath Spa University in 2026.