From the first conversation, Univa made us feel supported and heard. The care provided to our family member has been respectful, consistent, and genuinely kind.
Daniel Roberts
Family Member
Gary Cooper is the Director of Operations (Director) for Univa Disability Services, and oversees the day-to-day operations of the organisation, ensuring efficiency, quality control, and continuous improvement across departments.
Gary is a seasoned leader with over 35 years of management experience, honed through service in both the British and Australian Army. A passionate advocate for justice and a strong ally to Indigenous Australians, he is driven by a commitment to excellence and grounded in the core values of integrity, honesty, courage, and respect.
Born in 1967 and raised in Richmond, North Yorkshire, England, Gary began his journey at 16 when he left school to join the British Army as an Apprentice Engineer. Over the next 24 years, he served across the globe in operations including Desert Storm, Bosnia, Kosovo, the Gulf War (Iraq), and Afghanistan. In 2009, he transferred to the Australian Defence Force, based in Darwin.
Motivated by the disconnect he observed between Australian soldiers and the Indigenous community, Gary transitioned from the military into education, becoming a Housemaster at Kormilda College. There, he made a lasting impact on the lives of young Indigenous Australians and later served as the Assistant Head of the boarding program for several years.
He briefly worked as a corrections officer at Darwin Correctional Centre but left the role due to limited opportunities to improve conditions for Indigenous inmates. Gary then took on a leadership role with a Darwin-based NDIS provider, where he managed 11 SIL homes and a team of 99 staff, using his skills to uplift and support people with disabilities.
In pursuit of continued growth, he joined the YMCA drop-in centre in Palmerston as a Team Leader, serving youths aged 10 to 17. During his six-month tenure, he played a key role in developing policies, training staff, and setting the foundation for the centre’s success.
In 2020, Gary was appointed Director of Operations at United NT Disability Services and started to implement the values and ethos for United NT to become one of the best NDIS providers in the NT. The company continues to grow and is now working closely supporting forensic mental health participants. Building on this success, United NT are expanding their operations to Queensland under a new company Univa Disability Services established 2025.