We are delighted that Gordon Blakely has joined Momentum World as our Senior Adviser. Gordon is well known to most people in the UK and international youth sector, as former Head of Youth Policy at the British Council.
Gordon began working life with the Greater Manchester Youth Association, a non-governmental support agency. After some initial international work, he took up post in London at the Central Bureau for Educational Visits, the government international body for the Ministry of Education. In 1990, he formally joined British Council as Director of the Youth Exchange Centre. Over the years, this work included managing the European Union Youth in Action Programme; formal bilateral co-operation with Japan, China, Israel, and programmes with South East Europe and Sub Saharan Africa.
In 2010, he received an OBE for services to the British Council. Previously, he was awarded Chevalier des Palmes Academiques by the French Government, and a John Adams Study Scholarship by United States Embassy.
Gordon will be writing occasional blogs on this page for Momentum World, relating to youth policy or other issues of international interest.