Gary Smith
Writer, author, and Photographer in Llanfihangel-Nant-Brân, Powys, United Kingdom
Gary Smith is a writer, photographer, motorcyclist, Chartered Engineer and retired innovation leader living in the mountains of Mid Wales.
Born and educated in London, Gary developed a passion for exploration, navigation and the outdoors while attending the London Nautical School on the South Bank of the River Thames. That fascination with travel, landscapes and people has remained a constant throughout his life.
Professionally, Gary spent more than forty years working in occupational health and safety, risk management, innovation and asset management. His career has included roles with the Health and Safety Executive, local government, higher education, the Welsh Government and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. He became a Chartered Fellow of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (CFIOSH), a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health (FRSH), a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and an internationally recognised specialist in management systems, risk reduction and the practical application of emerging technologies.
During the latter part of his career he became known for championing the use of augmented reality, virtual reality, wearable technology and digital information systems within high-hazard industrial environments. His work received multiple national awards and culminated in appointments supporting the development of international standards relating to the safe use of XR technologies.
Away from the boardroom, Gary's real passion has always been travel by motorcycle. Over the last four decades he has ridden well in excess of 400,000 miles through the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, mainland Europe and North America. His journeys have taken him from Arctic Norway and Sweden to the Alps, the Balkans, Eastern Europe and the wilderness regions of Alaska and Canada.
In recognition of his commitment to travel, cultural understanding and storytelling, In 2011, Gary was selected as one of the original Jupiter's Travellers by the Ted Simon Foundation. Inspired by Ted Simon's philosophy that travel can help build understanding between people and cultures, Gary documents his journeys through writing, photography and personal reflection.
Today he publishes Tyclyd – A Lifetime on Two Wheels, a growing collection of travel stories, motorcycle adventures, practical touring advice and landscape photography. His writing reflects a belief that the greatest journeys are rarely about destinations; they are about people, experiences and the lessons learned along the way.
When not travelling, Gary can usually be found exploring the mountains, forests and back roads of Wales, walking his dogs, planning the next motorcycle adventure, volunteering within the community or supporting environmental and planning initiatives that help protect the landscapes he loves.
You can follow Gary via Twitter @tyclyd and check our my website www.tyclyd.com