Emeritus ProfessorDavid Gann, CBE CEng

Professor David Gann CBE FREng is a senior leader in businesses and universities, with a reputation for creating and championing innovation and growth, and mentoring science-based start-ups.

He is a leader in the development of fusion energy, as Chair of UK Fusion Energy Ltd, and previous Chair of the UK Atomic Energy Authority.

David was Pro-Vice-Chancellor Development & External Affairs and Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the University of Oxford. Prior to that he was Vice-President (Innovation) at Imperial College London from 2013 to 2019, playing a central role in developing the vision, strategy and innovation agenda for Imperial College's 25-acre White City Campus and the development of new ventures such as Imperial College ThinkSpace, and ScaleSpace, increasing and diversifying Imperial's income. 

David is non-executive director of VenCap International plc, a leading venture fund-of-funds, and GenIP plc, an AI technology valuation services platform. He is a member of Euroclear's Advisory Council and of Sussex University's Council. 

David is an entrepreneur, founding and growing several companies. He was Group Innovation Executive at Laing O’Rourke plc. David frequently advises governments and was a member of the UK Government’s Innovation Expert Group and the Ministry of Defence’s Technology and Innovation Board. His pro bono work includes being Vice Chair of the Villars Institute, a Swiss foundation focusing on systems leadership to halt climate change and bio-diversity loss; and he is a board member of the London Symphony Orchestra.

David has authored ten books on innovation and entrepreneurship. He has a PhD in Industrial Economics, is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a Chartered Civil Engineer, Fellow of Institution of Civil Engineers and is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Art, and Fellow of the City & Guilds Institute.

David was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2010 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to engineering, and received the 2014 Tjalling C. Koopmans Asset Award, for extraordinary contributions to the economic sciences. He was awarded the Imperial College Medal in 2019.