Can you briefly describe what your role is Gavin?
GD – I head up the global marketing communications department for the Schauenburg Analytics Ltd group of companies, which includes Markes International and SepSolve Analytical. This involves all areas of communications, from event organisation, public relations activities, content marketing and traditional advertising through to all aspects of digital marketing.
How long have you been working in your field?
GD – I have been in the commercial world for 30 years. Following University and some post-doctoral research, I started working in sales and marketing within the private sector for an American scientific instrument manufacturer.
What do you think is your biggest accomplishment in your career?
GD – I consider my biggest accomplishments to come from my career as a marketer. Winning two CIM Wales Canmol marketing awards for a new product introduction is one of them.
I’m also very proud to have been elected as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) several years ago, which the Institute only confers on its most senior strategic marketers. I was equally thrilled to have been appointed as Chair of the CIM Wales Board and promote professional marketing in Wales.
In 2020 I was honoured to be asked to sit on the Board of Trustees and assist a charity that supports those living with dementia and their families, the Forget-me-not Chorus. The charity required marketing support and experience to enable it to continue to grow and deliver its service through the COVID-19 pandemic; to expand its traditional face-to-face service to a digital offering.
How did you get to where you are now? What was your career journey?
GD – I gained a first-class BSc (Hons) and PhD degrees in chemistry from Cardiff University, undertook post-doctoral research at King’s College, London, and later studied Digital Marketing at the University of South Wales.
Following my post-doctoral work in London (where I also studied opera singing at the Royal Academy of Music), I reached a fork in my career: join Scottish Opera chorus as a full-time opera singer, or to stay within science and move into the commercial world. To cut a long story short, I went into international sales and marketing for Isco, Inc, an American laboratory instrument manufacturer. This was fantastic because it involved an awful lot of international travel and learning much about sales and marketing. What a wonderful education!
From there I went to head up sales and marketing at Jones Chromatography, before moving into a sales and marketing position at Argonaut Technologies, when the company acquired Jones. In 2005 I moved to Markes International firstly as commercial manager and then as marketing manager. Three years ago, I moved into the Group Head of Communications role at Schauenburg Analytics Ltd.
Why did you join BMTA? What value do you receive as a member of BMTA?
GD – Markes gets a lot of value from being a member of the BMTA. From representing the Association on BSI committees through to networking opportunities. Being kept up to date with industry news and trends is also extremely useful.
You’re a member of the BMTA Council. When and why did you join the Council?
GD – I joined Council in 2015. Personally, I wanted to be able to assist with the marketing of the Association and promote the field of metrology.
What else can you tell us about yourself?
GD – Beyond my activities as a marketer, and the charity work previously mentioned, I have also been involved as the Treasurer of a Cardiff-based Scout group for the last eight years.
I didn’t completely turn my back on a career in the entertainment sector! As a professional opera singer, I’ve been freelancing for 30 years, working with many opera companies and choral societies up and down the country. Since 2006, I’ve worked with the extra chorus of the Welsh National Opera appearing in many shows. Some notable ones have included a West End debut in Der fliegende Holländer (with Sir Bryn Terfel); Janáček’s From the House of the Dead at the International Janáček festival in Brno, Czech Republic; and Tristan und Isolde at the Usher Hall as part of the Edinburgh International Festival.
Finally, I’m a member of the local golf club and play (very badly) at the weekends when the weather is favourable!