Gerry has a BSc in Biology from Cornell University, USA, a PhD (molecular virology) from Imperial College London, UK and a MSc in Aquaculture from University College Cork, Ireland. He has served as manager of the Aquaculture & Fisheries Development Centre and the Environmental Research Institute, UCC. Concurrently, he also led a research team on industry-focused aquaculture technology, where he successfully completed 12 research projects and mentored two PhDs. In addition, this research led to the development of a novel aquaculture system, which was patent protected and packaged into a start-up company from UCC that Gerry managed for six years. This technology was the first ever aquaculture system conceptualised and developed in Ireland. Following his exit from the company, Gerry worked as a business consultant and Chief Technical Officer in several start-up ventures in Ireland as well as Commercialisation Case Manager at the Teagasc Technology Transfer Office.