Contact Dr Gilu George
- Email: G.L.George@cranfield.ac.uk
Background
Dr Gilu George joined Cranfield Executive Development (CED) as the Director of the Associate Network in July 2019. CED operates both in the UK and internationally and is known for delivering outstanding results through its portfolio of open and tailored executive development programmes. Within CED, Gilu manages a large network of 250+ talented and diverse group of Associates. She is a Chartered Manager, a professional coach, holds a Recognised Teacher Status and is a member of SOM Athena Swan Champions group. She serves as the Chair of the University's North America and Canada Regional Expert Group and is also a member of the India Regional Expert Group, actively working to foster partnerships in these regions.
Prior to her role at CED, Gilu was a Business Development Manager in the Business Alliance and Partnerships team at Cranfield Research and Innovation Office since November 2015. This role involved supporting research staff in developing their partnerships with the private sector and management of key partnerships. She played an instrumental role in winning and in early stages leading a European Regional Development Funded project IMAGE (Innovation in Manufacturing, Aerospace and Green economy) offering funding opportunities for SME businesses to work with universities and utilise the knowledge of leading academics and world-class facilities.
At RIO, Gilu led a new Industry- Academia partnership model - the Johnson Matthey Agritech Partnership Programme; a pilot programme offering businesses the opportunity to work with University¡¯s academic experts accelerate the market translation of high impact innovations for the Agritech sector. She was also the Relationship Manager for Cranfield ¨C Unilever strategic partnership and initiated the Unilever Ice-cream Innovation Accelerator competition.
Before moving to Cranfield, Gilu was at University of East Anglia where she worked as Business Innovation Manager for the Adapt Low Carbon Group. She was part of the Adapt¡¯s InCrops partnership and Adapt Commercial Ltd, working at the interface between academics and businesses to deliver consultancy, innovation scouting and consortia building. Gilu led Adapt on the latter part of development of an Agri-Food Innovation platform bid for European Structural and Investment Fund involving four Local Enterprise Partnerships. Gilu¡¯s role was crucial in bringing together new partnerships between academia and industry resulting in higher impact research projects and added value for businesses. She project managed and worked on several projects including Innovate UK, UEA LEP, Agritech catalyst and EU Interreg projects.
Her educational background includes a Bachelor¡¯s degree in Agriculture, Master¡¯s degree in Biotechnology, a second Master¡¯s degree in Applied Biomolecular Technology (University of Nottingham) and PhD in Plant Biology (University of York). She also holds a ILM 7 Diploma in Strategic Management & Leadership studies.
She has worked extensively in the Science sector as a part of multi-disciplinary research teams in different organisations in the UK and abroad in various roles including teaching, research, knowledge transfer and business development. These include Higher Education Institutions (University of York, University of East Anglia) and Research Centres such as the International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), SPICES BOARD of India, Unilever Research Labs, Centre for Novel Agricultural Products (CNAP) and the Biorenewables Development Centre Ltd (BDC).
Gilu is an approved STEM Ambassador, Associate of the Higher Education Academy and a member of Chartered Management Institute.
Current activities
Strategic leadership role with responsibility for shaping and delivering the University¡¯s associate-led delivery model and wider consultancy capability..
Key responsibilities include:
- ¡¤ Leading the end-to-end associate consultancy ecosystem, comprising a diverse, high-value community of over 250 senior practitioners, visiting faculty, programme directors, and subject matter experts, with responsibility for engagement, IR35 and contract governance, strategic resourcing, quality assurance, and performance alignment to organisational priorities.
- ¡¤ Leading Strategic Partnerships at Cranfield Executive Development, shaping end-to-end, enterprise-wide value propositions for high-impact clients and long-term institutional relationships.
- ¡¤ As a member of the Senior Management Team, acting as a senior adviser to the Cranfield Executive Development SMT on strategic partnerships, business development, and associate operations.
- ¡¤ Providing strategic direction for high-profile programmes and complex projects across multiple geographies, influencing programme design, delivery models, and governance to ensure alignment with client objectives, institutional strategy, and international market requirements.
- ¡¤ Driving thought leadership and strategic insight across the enterprise, influencing pan-university strategic initiatives and working closely with Pro Vice-Chancellors, academic leadership, and professional services colleagues to enable integrated delivery.
- ¡¤ Identifying and developing new consultancy and partnership opportunities, including expanding geographic and sector capability to support income growth, diversification, and service excellence.
- ¡¤ Championing inclusive leadership and institutional culture, co-founding the EmbRace Staff Network and contributing to Athena Swan, University Grading Panels, and international regional committees.
Clients
Current clients include key stakeholders in industry, HEIs, research organisations and private sector at a national and international level to support and develop commercial sector funding opportunities.
