Damon Gibbons

Accomplished professional and leading international consumer advocate and researcher focused on reforming credit markets to better serve low to middle income households and improving support for people in debt. Exceptional skills in policy analysis and campaign leaderships, with a proven ability to engage stakeholders and advocate for consumer interests. Highly adept at conducting research, solving complex problems, and communicating with a wide range of audiences to drive public relations success. Skilled in strategic planning, team building and fostering collaboration to achieve organisational goals. Committed to leveraging these competencies to deliver impactful results in dynamic environments.

1999 - 2007: Co-founder and Chair of the Debt on our Doorstep Coalition. Brought together over 200 grassroots organisations, including debt advice agencies, credit unions, and faith groups to campaign for caps on the cost of credit and greater investment in affordable provision. The campaign led to a competition commission inquiry into door-to-door moneylenders (also known as 'home credit') in 2005, and to the introduction of responsible lending requirements in the Consumer Credit Act (2006).

2005 - 2010: Co-founder of the European Coalition for Responsible Credit, which organised conferences in Brussels, Hamburg, Trento, Edinburgh and London, bringing together academics, credit providers, regulators and policymakers to discuss the need for responsible lending requirements. Subsequently also spoke at events in Vilnius, Washington D.C., and Sapporo on behalf of the coalition. 

2019 - Present: External Associate of the Centre on Household Assets and Savings Management at the University of Birmingham.

Books

Gibbons, D. (2026). Trust and Power in Consumer Credit Relationships: Rethinking Creditworthiness in the Data-Driven Age. Palgrave Macmillan.

Gibbons, D. (2014) Britain's Personal Debt Crisis: How we got here and what to do about it. Searching Finance.

Book Chapters

Gibbons, D. (2023). Responsible Credit in the EU: National Law, the New EU-Directive and Beyond. In Kocher, E., Neuberger, D., Howells, G., & Nogler, L. (Eds). Sozialer Verbraucherschutz: Festschrift fur Udo Reifner. Nomos.

Gibbons, D. (2016). Britain's Debt Crisis and Responsible Credit. In Ferretti, F. (Ed). Comparative Perspectives of Consumer Over-Indebtedness: A View from the U.K, Germany, Greece, and Italy. Eleven International Publishing.

Gibbons, D. (2011). Responsible credit - learning from other countries. In McAteer, M. (Ed.) A Nation Living on the Never Never. Smith Institute.

Journal Articles

Gibbons, D. (2020) : Unsustainable Household Debt: Problems of Measurement, Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung, ISSN 1861-1559, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, Vol. 89, Iss. 1, pp. 101-113

Gibbons, D. (2013). Implementing local welfare schemes. Journal of Poverty & Social Justice, 21(2).

Gibbons, D., & Stamp, S. (2010, September). Debt counselling systems, typology. In European Seminar, Prevention, Regional and Local Treatment of Over-indebtedness (Vol. 30).

Reports

Gibbons, D., & Pena, A.R. (2026). Good Score, Empty Cupboard: The credit score  trap forcing households to cut spending on essentials. Centre for Responsible Credit.

Gibbons, D. (2025). The Financial Shield Project: Supporting working aged people with long-term health conditions and financial difficulties. Centre for Responsible Credit.

Gibbons, D., & Pena, A.R. (2025). Fair for You's first decade of fair credit: transforming lives across the U.K. Centre for Responsible Credit.

Pena, A.R, & Gibbons, D. (2025). Trust and Default Risk: Lessons from the FlexMyRent Project. Centre for Responsible Credit.

Gibbons, D. (2024). The Need for Debt Advice and the Challenges Ahead. Centre for Responsible Credit.

Gibbons, D. (2024). The Drivers of Illegal Moneylending. Centre for Responsible Credit.

Gibbons, D. (2022). Evaluation of Fair4All Finance's Covid-19 Resilience Fund. Centre for Responsible Credit.

Gibbons, D. (2020). Credit, Risk and the Pandemic. Briefing Paper. Centre on Household Assets and Savings Management, University of Birmingham.

Reifner, U., Gibbons, D., Neuberger, D., & Riefa, C. (2019). Evaluation of Directive 2008/48/EU with regard to the spread of Usurious Credit in Europe. Paper mandated by the German Coalition against Usury in connection with the European Coalition for Responsible Credit (ECRC), Hamburg.

Gibbons, D. (2019). Mitigating the Consequences of Rising Household Debt. Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting Discussion Paper. The Commonwealth.

Gibbons, D., & Walker, C. (2019). Reshaping Financial Support: How councils can help to  support low-income households in financial difficulty. Local Government Association.

Gibbons, D. (2017). The Decline of Crisis and Community Care Support in England: Why a New Approach is Needed. Centre for Responsible Credit.

Gibbons, D., McAllum, A., & Murphy, H. (2016). Improving the Financial Health of Low Income Groups. Centre for Responsible Credit.

Gibbons, D. (2016). The Distribution of Consumer Credit Debt in Leicester. Community Investment Coalition.

Gibbons, D. (2016). Britain in the Red: Why we Need Action to Help Over-Indebted Households. TUC.

Gibbons, D. (2015). Where now for Local Welfare Schemes? Centre for Responsible Credit.

Gibbons, D., & Foster, S. (2014). Advice, Support and Poverty: Evidence Review. Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Gibbons, D. (2014). The Child Poverty Implications of Problem Debt. Briefing Paper. Centre on Household Assets and Savings Management, University of Birmingham.

Gibbons, D. (2013). Tackling the High-Cost Credit Problem: The Importance of Regulatory Databases. Centre for Responsible Credit.

Gibbons, D. (2012). Improving Practice in the Rent to Own Market. Centre for Responsible Credit.

Gibbons, D. (2012). Taking on the Moneylenders: Lessons from Japan. Centre for Responsible Credit.

Gibbons, D. (2011). Held to Account: A Review of Corporate Social Responsibility in Retail Banking from the Consumer Perspective. Centre for Responsible Credit.

Gibbons, D., Vaid, L., & Gardiner, L. (2011). Can consumer credit be affordable to households on low incomes? Centre for Responsible Credit and Friends Provident Foundation.

Gibbons, D., Malhotra, N., & Bulmore, R. (2010). Payday lending in the UK: a review of the debate and policy options. Centre for Responsible Credit.

Gibbons, D. (2010). Out of work and out of money: A study of financial inclusion and worklessness in Manchester: how to improve support for people with money problems to obtain and sustain employment. Manchester City Council.

Gibbons, D., & Singler, R. (2008). Cold Comfort: A Review of Coping Strategies Employed by Households in Fuel Poverty. Energywatch.

Gibbons, D., & McCartney, I. (2008). Protecting Low-income Borrowers in the Credit Crisis. Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion.