During a diverse 30-year career in policing, Iain gained extensive specialist knowledge and experience in several critical areas. Since leaving policing he has extended his skills and introduced new ones to complement his professional interest in crisis leadership.
The skill areas include command-and-control, where he served as a Force Silver Commander and supported the national counterterrorism exercising program; learning and development, where he led the design, creation and delivery of innovative policing degree programmes, ensuring regulatory compliance and equitable delivery; capability and capacity development, where he worked internationally on a cross-government unit to enhance civil protection through multi-agency collaboration; and critical analysis, applied during his role as policing expert to the Chair of the Manchester Arena Inquiry . For the last five years he has applied this knowledge and experience as an EPC Associate.
His academic achievements complement his professional expertise. He earned a BA (Hons) in Professional Learning and Development in 2008, with research that examined how people learn to learn. In 2017, he completed a Masters of Education (MEd) with research exploring how leaders navigate crisis change programmes. He is currently pursuing a Professional Doctorate in Education (EdD), exploring the learning crisis leaders rely on to be effective during spontaneous emergencies.
Over the years, he has been recognised with several prestigious fellowships, including Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), Fellow of the Institute of Strategic Risk Management (F.ISRM), Fellow of the Institute of Civil Protection and Emergency Management (FICPEM), and Fellow of the Institute of Leadership (FIoL).
His ability to integrate his practical experience with academic knowledge has been a hallmark of his career. He has been active within learning and development for twenty-five years and enjoys helping individuals and organisations through change processes.
Critically, it is the practical application of the new learning and seeing it successfully embedded into new personal or organisational processes, which is the most important aspect for him. Preparedness is achieved through accurate testing of new personal learning and new organisational processes. Creating change programmes which deliver sustainable improvement, ensuring organisations and individuals are not only equipped but are confident and competent, is central to Iain’s approach.
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 and is a newly converted lover of dark chocolate.
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)