He is a civil and structural engineer and has international experience in the design and management of civil engineering infrastructure.

Gordon is a Vice President of Jacobs, and was the UK government Project Representative for Crossrail (2009-13), the biggest construction project in Europe, and subsequently led a team advising MOD on defence procurement.

Gordon is also a graduate of Edinburgh University and the Open University, and is the author of over 50 technical papers. He has honorary doctorates from Glasgow Caledonian University and Heriot Watt University.

He was President of the Institution of Civil Engineers from 2005 to 2006. His 'President's Apprentice' concept, in which Gordon worked with several young graduate engineers through his year in office, is still thriving and has been adopted by other organisations. In 2008 he was awarded an OBE for services to civil engineering in Scotland. He is Chairman of the ICE's Panel for Historical Engineering Works and chairs the ICE/IStructE/HSE Standing Committee on Structural Safety.

Gordon has also served as Chairman of the Construction Industry Council, President of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland and is Vice Chairman of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. He launched the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame in 2011.