Gordon was born in Edinburgh and attended Boroughmuir High School which he left at the age of fifteen to work as a laboratory technician in a Poultry Research Centre. He attended Napier College (now Napier University) on a day release basis for eight years, studying Chemistry before undertaking PhD research at the University of Edinburgh. On completion of his research degree Gordon joined Fife College as a lecturer, where he eventually became manager of the college’s science section. Following a brief spell at the SQA, he subsequently moved to Lauder College in Dunfermline, becoming the college’s quality manager.
In 2006, Gordon was appointed as Director Of Learning And Teaching at Kilmarnock College, and after a year long spell as Acting Principal, became Vice Principal there in 2009. In January 2010, he joined the North Highland College as Principal and Chief Executive.
Gordon is interested in improving all aspects of the learners' experience - particularly in reaching out to reluctant learners and finding ways of engaging with them to create an environment where they become enthusiastic about their own learning.
For Gordon, one of the most exciting things about coming to the North Highland College is the opportunity to work with learners on all levels of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF), from students at level 1 to researchers at level 12.