Timo Gayer, born in 1981, studied vocational education, human resources management and work and organizational psychology at the Technical University of Darmstadt.
After gaining national and international project experience, he joined the Board of IG Metall in 2011 in the Education and Qualification Policy department. Initially as a project manager, later with managerial responsibility for vocational training research and higher education policy. He has headed the department since 2024 and represents IG Metall on the main committee of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training.
His areas of responsibility include the Joint Center Ruhr University and IG Metall, the Advisory Board of the German Association for Academic Continuing Education and Distance Learning and parts of the Hans Böckler Foundation’s support for gifted students.
He is also active in various Bodies and projects at the Interfaces of Research, Policy and Practice.