About Me

My given name is Alan and am now, as we say in my part of the world I am “getting rather long in the tooth”. I trained and qualified as a chemist (not a pharmacist) and still regard myself as a scientist. If you are really, really  interested in my past research, other technical and managerial endeavours then you can look me up  in Google or the various technical search engines such as  Google Scholar  under .A F Gerrard

Whilst doing research at Stanford University in the USA, I decided that a career in academia was not really for me so on returning back to the UK, I joined a large Swiss chemical company. Later in my career I joined a multinational American company. With hind site it was the right decision not to return to academic life. When I look back on my career in the Chemical Industry I can rightly say that I enjoyed it all. My personal development was greatly influenced by the people I met and the widely differing jobs I did which progressively involved increasing levels of executive seniority and international exposure.

After leaving full time employment. I carried out some selective consultancy work in the UK, USA and in China and also involved myself in a number of public service roles. Particularly helping small companies by serving on the Boards of  the business support organisations of The Trafford Park Manufacturing Institute, Trafford Park Business Forum and the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce. I had and still have a personal mission to enthuse young people to consider a career in science / engineering.

I hung up my business hats and suits a few years ago and now wonder how I ever found time to go to work at all!