Gale Burford is Emeritus Professor of Social Work at the University of Vermont. His career has spanned work internationally and included experience as a social work practitioner, supervisor and senior manager of services for young people in Quebec, educator and researcher in Newfoundland and Labrador (Memorial University) and New Zealand (Victoria University of Wellington) and trainer and consultant in various places in Europe, particularly in the North of England and New Zealand. His innovative work with collaborator Joan Pennell in Newfoundland and Labrador investigating the role of families in stopping interpersonal violence has been recognized and used to guide practice and research in many parts of the world by child and family welfare and restorative justice practitioners and leaders.

Gale has carried out a wide range of program evaluation activities and research including those that focus on restorative justice and family engagement interventions, the use of drug courts and reparative probation with adult offenders, youth-run community living, group care and residential treatment, differential treatment approaches, teamwork and organizational change. He is currently finalizing a multi-year study of one US state’s efforts to infuse participatory practices in its child welfare and youth justice services and supporting the development of the Restorative Approach to Peaceful and Sustainable Societies Alliance (RAPSSA) initiated by colleagues at Dalhousie University. Gale is a graduate of St. Martin’s University (BA), the University of Washington (MSW), and the University of Stirling (PhD).