Tom Gorman is an academic and theatre director currently based at Coventry University. Tom studied English Literature and Language at Queen's University Belfast before going on to complete a PhD in Theatre at the University of Ulster researching the history performer/audience relationships especially the concept of the 'play within a play' in early modern drama. In 1990, as well as working as a freelance actor, he co-founded Sightlines Theatre Company, Belfast and worked with them as Artistic Director for six years. During this period, he continued to work as an actor, writer and director with numerous theatre companies throughout Ireland and as a writer for Radio Ulster. From 1997-2005 he worked as Strand Leader in Drama at the University of Birmingham, moving on to become Course Director of the BA Drama Studies degree at Bath Spa University. From 2007 he has been working as Senior Lecturer and course director on the BA Acting for Stage and Screen Degree at Coventry University.

He is currently engaged in a research project that originated with Tampere University, Finland, and now continues with L'Escola Superior d'Art Dramàtic de les Illes Balears (ESADIB) using videoconferencing technology, projections and sound design to create immersive transnational rehearsal spaces. This project, now nearing its 10th year, was the recipient of the Gold Award for most innovative Arts and Humanities project at the 2016 Reimagine Education Awards. In December 2018 it received the Gold Award for best Arts and Humanities project and the Gold for Hybrid Learning at the 2018 Reimagine Education awards, was one of the 10 highest scoring projects. It was also highly commended at the 2018 Times Higher Education Awards, won the Guardian Universities award for Internationalisation in 2020. The new iteration of this project with ESADIB was the  recipient of the PIEoneer Award for Study Abroad and Student Experience of the year in 2025. He is a member of the organising committee of Network Performing Arts Production workshop, sits on the board of the Nordic Centre for Digital Presence, mentors in performance and advanced networks for Anilla Cultural (Uruguay/Mexico) and has been the recipient of two E-Culture Awards from Uruguayan Cultural Ring in 2021 and 2023.