Julia Muir is the CEO of Gaia Innovation Ltd, and has over 25 years experience in automotive retailing, manufacturing and consulting, with roles in Quality, HR, Dealer Training, Recruitment, Sales, Marketing, Product Development, Brand and Advertising. She has a Business Studies degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Development, and has worked in the UK, Germany and Spain. Julia is an expert in creating a great customer and employee experience and advising car retailers on the transition to digitalisation, and taught on the executive programmes at the Loughborough University School of Business and Economics Centre for Automotive Management.

Julia helps employers and universities take action to create inclusive and gender balanced talent pools. She also gives speeches in schools to inform young people about the creative and technological skills that employers and universities require for the “4th Industrial Revolution”. Gaia Innovation builds positive relationships between employers, universities and schools with a goal of achieving the best employment destination for every child. This involves organising inspirational events for school students to meet employers from advanced technology sectors, career networking sessions, employer open days, employability skills training, work experience programmes and developing outreach programmes for employers to provide positive interactions within schools.

Julia is a volunteer for the Education and Employers Inspiring the Future charity, a speaker for the Speakers for Schools charity, and was awarded the Mary Lou Carrington Award by the City of London Worshipful Company of Educators for her work with Speakers for Schools.  In 2018 she was appointed as the Private Sector Board Member lead on Employment and Skills for the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, and is a member of of the Barnsley Economic Partnership.