Born in Sussex, England in 1962, Rory graduated from London University in 1986 with a music degree. His postgraduate studies culminated in a PhD from Sheffield Hallam University where he undertook research on relationship development and democratic governance. He lives in Yorkshire with his wife, Caroline, and his two children, Natasha and Bethany.
Rory is now a Senior Lecturer at Sheffield Business School, where he is course leader for the university's MSc Co-operative and Social Enterprise Management degree. In 2009, he became a HEFCE/UnLtd Ambassador for Social Entrepreneurship in Higher Education, and has been elected to the boards of Co-operatives Yorkshire & Humber, and Social Enterprise Yorkshire & Humber.
He is the author of numerous articles and four books, including Understanding Social Enterprise: Theory and Practice from Sage Publications.