Dr Gerry Power is a globally respected research-based strategic advisor with over 25 years of experience working at the intersection of international development, strategic communications, and social impact. He advises governments, international organisations, philanthropic foundations, and purpose-driven businesses on how to navigate complex social, political, and cultural challenges—often in fragile, transitional, or highly contested contexts. Gerry’s work brings together rigorous research, narrative strategy, and practical delivery. Known for translating complex evidence into clear, actionable strategies, he helps organisations design engagement approaches that are ethical, effective, and grounded in real-world insight.

He has held senior leadership roles across the nonprofit, commercial, and academic sectors. Most recently, Gerry was Partner and Managing Director at Purpose, where he led international teams delivering global and regional initiatives on climate change, digital safety, democracy, human rights, and global health. Before this, he spent ten years as Chief Research Officer at M&C Saatchi World Services, partnering with organisations such as the Gates Foundation, UNICEF, WHO, UNDP, FCDO, USAID, and the British Council to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges through research-led strategy and communications.

Earlier in his career, Gerry was Chief Operating Officer at InterMedia Research and Consulting and Director of Research & Learning at BBC World Service Trust (now BBC Media Action). At the BBC, he built award-winning research and evaluation teams across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, helping to set international standards for evidence-based media and development practice.

Alongside his advisory work, Gerry remains deeply engaged in research and policy. He is currently an Adjoint Professor in the Department of Medicine, Health & Society at Vanderbilt University and a Senior Research Fellow at RAND Europe, with a focus on narratives, influence, and disinformation. He has taught at UCLA, the University of Texas, Universidad de las Américas Puebla, and the London School of Economics, and is the author of numerous books, academic articles, and policy reports.

Gerry also brings extensive board-level experience, serving as a trustee of the Thomson Foundation, the Refugee Council and Opera Rara, with responsibilities spanning governance, finance, and executive oversight. Having lived and worked across Europe, Latin America, and the United States, he brings a genuinely global perspective to his work. His career is defined by ethical leadership, intellectual rigour, and a commitment to helping organisations understand people, shape narratives responsibly, and deliver public value at scale.