CIOB Awards 2025: EDI Individual

As joint lead for the Clear Pathways culture change programme, Gary Jones has had remarkable success in addressing the ethnicity pay gap within the Houses of Parliament. Clear Pathways provides learning and development support for the career aspirations of Black, Asian and minority ethnic colleagues.

With more than 75% of participants in this EDI programme experiencing career progression and promotion, Jones’ initiatives have been highly effective. His strategic vision, coupled with a mastery of organisational design and change management, has been instrumental in driving change and empowering individuals. His data-driven, analytical approach ensured the programme’s impact has been measured, optimised and continually enhanced. 

Jones is a multi-award-winning “professional problem solver” delivering results-driven, resilient, and adaptable transformation and cultural change. He has led initiatives across a diverse range of industries, including the UK parliament, construction, culture and digital environments, automotive retail, central government, immigration, health, residential, higher education, scientific research, retail and telecoms.

Jones has acted as a construction adviser to Dellar and Dellar, focusing on ethical property investment, as well as serving as a trustee for the social mobility charity Building Self Belief in the UK. He is a co-founder of International Visas, an enterprise based in Harare, Zimbabwe, delivering migrant solutions for various markets.

He has also negotiated a joint venture between Zimbabwean and UK-based companies to identify investment fund opportunities in minerals and infrastructure, as well as co-founding an energy performance certificate (EPC) and Home Inspectors Company, which he presented to the BBC Dragons Den programme.

Jones and fellow co-founder of Clear Pathways, Layo Obembe, now plan to develop Clear Corporate, a pan-parliamentary offering, so all colleagues of any background can benefit from the personal and organisational impact principles of the Clear Pathways project.

“With more than 75% of participants in the Clear Pathways  programme experiencing career progression and promotion, Jones’ initiatives have been highly effective.”