Professor Gan has been a Professor of Accounting and Finance at Lincoln University, New Zealand, since 2012, previously serving as Associate Professor in Economics (2004–2011), Senior Lecturer in Economics (1997–2003), and Lecturer in Economics (1995–1996). Prior to joining Lincoln, he worked as a Resource Economist at Geo Marine Inc. in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (1993–1994).

Prof. Gan is a prolific researcher with over 300 peer-reviewed journal publications, book chapters, and fully refereed conference proceedings. Most of his work is indexed in Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics) and Scopus, reflecting his significant impact in the fields of applied economics, quantitative finance, risk and financial management, banking, microfinance, and Asian financial economics.

His editorial contributions are extensive. He serves as Associate Editors of the International Journal of Bank Marketing and International Journal of Social Economics , sits on the editorial boards of over 15 international journals, and has guest co-edited special issues for high-impact journals such as Sustainability, Energies, and the Journal of Risk and Financial Management, as well as the Journal of Financial Economic Policy.

Professor Gan has received multiple international recognitions for his scholarly impact. In 2025, he was named one of the Best Economics and Finance Scientists in New Zealand by Research.com, ranking 7th nationally (out of 14) and 1,555th worldwide. The previous year (2024), he was recognized among the Best Social Sciences and Humanities Scientists in New Zealand, placing 35th nationally (out of 47) and 4,802nd globally. Additionally, ScholarGPS has designated him a Top Scholar, placing him in the top 0.5% of all scholars worldwide based on publication record, citation impact, and scholarly quality over the prior five years.

In addition to his research accolades, Professor Gan has received multiple awards for excellence in teaching, including the prestigious New Zealand National Teaching Excellence Award.