Iain is a highly experienced resilience specialist with over 30 years of experience in policing, who has significantly contributed to enhancing major incident response and counter-terrorism efforts both nationally and internationally.
He initially distinguished himself by developing an innovative training program for major incident response, which garnered national recognition. Leveraging this success, Iain was appointed as a Command & Control Advisor for the national counter-terrorism testing and exercising team. His expertise led him to a pivotal role with National Counter Terrorism Policing, where he served as a subject matter expert on an international team.
Stationed overseas, Iain played a crucial role in enhancing the capabilities and capacities of policing and other government agencies, focusing on improving international responses to terror attacks and strengthening civil protection mechanisms. His work across government teams underscores his ability to lead and innovate in high-stakes environments.
Following a diverse 30-year career, Ian retired from policing in 2018 and became the Director of Policing for a local university. There he led the development of a suite of professional academic packages, designed to support new officers as they entered the policing profession - linking academic rigour with workplace development.
His ranging experience, combined with a proven analytical ability, led to his role as policing advisor to Sir John Saunders, the Chair of the Inquiry into the Manchester Arena bombing. His responsibilities included conducting a detailed analysis of the emergency response, producing comprehensive reports, presenting findings using sworn evidence, and contributing to post-inquiry recommendations that aimed to enhance practice at both local and national levels.
An active educator since 2001, Ian firmly believes it is the successful embedding of new learning that brings real benefit to the learner, and the organisation. Central to his approach is preparedness; creating change and sustainable improvement to ensure people and organisations are not only equipped but are confident and competent.
Beyond his professional life, Iain has many interests and hobbies. He is a passionate outdoor enthusiast, spending his free time skippering on the open ocean and hiking up mountains as a dedicated Munro-bagger. He's also a football fan, novice cyclist and a newly converted lover of dark chocolate. He enjoys diving in warm climates, practicing yoga, and exploring different cultures. His zest for life doesn't stop there; he's also a budding intercontinental tourist, always eager to explore new places.
Resilience Capabilities:
Crisis Management
Emergency Management, Response & Recovery
Organisational Resilience
Qualifications:
Master of Education (M.Ed) Leadership and Management
BA (Hons) in Professional Learning and Development.
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
Fellow of the Institute of Civil Protection and Emergency Management (FICPEM)
Fellow of the Institute of Strategic Risk Management (FIRSM)
Fellow of the Institute of Leadership (FIoL)