Gary Paterson has been appointed as our new Communication & Outreach Officer, joining the organisation from the European Parliament. He brings a decade of policy and communication experience in academia, government, and not-for-profit organisations at both the domestic and international levels.
He is a graduate of the University of Strathclyde, having obtained a Bachelors in Politics and International Relations and having served in a variety of roles including as Student President and a Graduate Policy Trainee. Upon conclusion of a Masters in International Relations at the University of Glasgow, he relocated to Belgium where he studied an additional Masters in specialised EU studies at the College d’Europe.
In addition to his academic qualifications, his work in campaigns and communications for youth, student, and European movements has been recognised with the awarding of the Charlemagne Youth Prize and a Fellowship of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.
Upon concluding his studies in Bruges, Gary joined the European Parliament as a Schuman Trainee where he supported internal communications in the Directorate for the Parliament’s 34 Liaison Offices in the EU, UK, and USA. With a particular interest in European affairs and a background strongly influenced by education, Gary looks forward to bringing his passion for impactful communications to our mission.
At the conclusion of his introduction week, Gary said:
“It’s a great pleasure to join CESAER and to support its work strengthening and uniting the voice of universities of science and technology in Europe.”
“Having benefited myself from the transformative work that our Members are delivering for students, research, and societal development, I am passionate about the role of universities in realising individual, community, and societal change.”
“I believe that the role of universities is fundamental to help tackling challenges and seizing opportunities, and so I am excited about joining this network in supporting its mission as the new Communication & Outreach Officer.”
In his role, Gary supports the Secretariat in delivering and developing our communication and outreach strategy and output, including serving as a member of Task Force Benchmark and advising all other bodies.
Gary’s website can be found at www.garypaterson.eu, and can also be found on LinkedIn and Twitter. His phone number is +32 16 37 20 30.