With more than 32 years experience working with the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade), Ian is an expert in the promotion and facilitation of international trade and investment.  

In his most recent role as Regional Director, Europe, Middle East and Africa for Austrade, Ian was responsible for setting the strategic direction and implementing business plans across 31 Austrade posts in 27 countries.  During this post, he was responsible for developing business plans focused on the attraction of productive investment to Australia; the export of high IP content manufactured products; securing infrastructure and other significant opportunities in the Middle East; and mining technology and services and agribusiness sectors in Sub Saharan Africa and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
 
In earlier posts for Austrade he was the Regional Director, Americas; Regional Director, Middle East/Indian Ocean Region; Senior Trade Commissioner and Minister-Counsellor (Marketing) in Tokyo and Washington; Senior Trade Commissioner and Consul-General in Atlanta; and Senior Trade Commissioner in Moscow.

Prior to joining the Australian Government, Ian worked in international banking with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and was also senior agricultural economist with the Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation.
 
Since retiring from Austrade in September 2011, Ian now consults on international business. He has an Honours Degree in Economics from the University of Adelaide and a Diploma of Japanese Studies from the Osaka University of Foreign Studies.  He was also a research fellow in Agricultural Economics at Kobe University, Japan.  He speaks French, Russian, Japanese and social German.