Trinity's first visiting Gourlay Professor for 2026 is Professor Gerry George. 

Professor George will deliver the first 2026 Gourlay Lecture on: Venture Meets Mission: Aligning People, Purpose, and Profit to Transform Society.

About the lecture

Universities have long been engines of ideas that shape society—but how do those ideas translate into action at scale? This lecture presents a framework for addressing today’s most pressing global challenges by rethinking the relationship between entrepreneurship, government, and the public good. Venture Meets Mission explores how mission‑driven innovation can bridge the false divide between markets and the state. Drawing on interdisciplinary research and real‑world case studies, the lecture examines how entrepreneurs and governments can collaborate to tackle complex issues such as climate change, health, education, and inequality—while maintaining economic viability and public trust.

The lecture will address:

• why large societal challenges require new models of public–private collaboration
• how entrepreneurs can design ventures that create public value and scale impact
• the evolving role of government as an enabler of innovation, talent, and capital
• what this changing landscape means for students and graduates seeking meaningful, impact‑driven careers.

Designed for students, faculty, researchers, and practitioners across disciplines, this lecture invites the university community to rethink innovation not as a choice between profit and purpose, but as a shared mission. By aligning people, purpose, and profit, Venture Meets Mission offers a hopeful, practical vision for how the next generation of leaders can help shape a more inclusive and resilient future.

For more information, please visit the event webpage here.