Candidate for
Council Member; City of Irvine

Gavin Huntley-Fenner emigrated to the United States in 1977 from Guyana, South America. He received his PhD in Brain and Cognitive Sciences from MIT in 1990. He moved to Irvine in 1996 and over the past 16 years he has become heavily invested in Irvine's civic life.

Dr. Huntley-Fenner has served as a trustee of the Irvine Unified School District since 2005, including as President in 2008-2009. During his tenure, Irvine Unified was recognized by the Center for American Progress as one of the country's most effective stewards of taxpayer resources with test scores ranking among the best in California. Gavin led the board in developing a stronger relationship with the City of Irvine, serving as a founding member of the Irvine Education Partnership Fund.

Dr. Huntley-Fenner's professional career spans academia and business, including time as a professor at UCI and as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company. His Irvine-based firm, Huntley-Fenner Advisors, Inc., specializes in safety and human factors, with clients across a broad range of industries including medical devices, consumer electronics, toys and transportation.

Dr. Huntley-Fenner also contributes pro bono service on the national, statewide and local levels. He serves as a member of the United States Food and Drug Administration Risk Communication Advisory Committee and he has served as a member of California's Statewide Committee on Autism and Education. Locally, he serves on the US Army Southern California Community Advisory Committee, the UCI School of Education Dean's Advisory Committee and on the Irvine Chamber of Commerce Legislative Action Committee.

Gavin is an avid reader and recreational runner who often races to raise money for education- and autism-related charities. He and his wife Beth recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. Their 2 children, aged 12 and 17, both attend Irvine Unified public schools.