Barry’s career is best described as the development and delivery of strategic change.

He joined the Authority in January 2019 from the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board where he led the development of the Future Strategy for Health and Social Care known as Moving Forward Together. This Vision shapes the future delivery of integrated person centred care by the Board's 37,000 staff and guides the allocation of it's £3 billion annual operating budget, to meet the changing needs of it's population up to and beyond 2025.

After graduating from Glasgow University, Barry started his career as an officer in the Royal Navy. His varied service ranged from operational action in the NATO led campaign in the Former Yugoslavia conflict, the “cold war” leading submarine operations in support of the UK strategic deterrent and intelligence gathering programmes to later specialising in the insertion and recovery of special forces.

In 2006, Barry joined NATO in a senior post with responsibility for the combat readiness of the NATO Response Force. He was awarded the NATO Meritorious Service medal by the Secretary General for his outstanding contribution to NATO.

After retiring from the armed forces in 2008, Barry joined the senior team in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. As the Head of Acute Planning and Performance he was responsible for the Board’s hospital transformation programmes, which included the opening of the new Stobhill and Victoria Ambulatory Care Hospitals and in 2015, the opening of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and new Royal Hospital for Children which stand as the largest campus in Europe.

Barry is the Chair of Foundation Scotland, Scotland's Community Foundation, an independent charity established to build resilence and strengthen local leadership in communities by providing a source of funding and expert guidance to community led projects the length and breadth of Scotland. Since 1996, the Foundation has been delivering innovative funding programmes, distributing around £11 million each year to charities and community groups across Scotland. Foundation Scotland has played a leading role in Scotland's response to the COVID-19 pandemic being the sole partner to the National Emergencies Trust in Scotland and Chairing the cross sector Scottish Emergencies Funding Advisory Board.

Register of Interests (last updated February 2024)