Ian has over 35 years public and social sector experience mainly within local authorities in England and Wales with 20 of these being at a senior leadership level and six years as a chief executive. He now is a director of his own company Traverse Leadership Consulting (TLC) Ltd specialising in delivering bespoke leadership development consultancy and coaching services designed to maximise public and social sectors leaders’ impact on place and people. He is vice chair of Sport Wales, a commissioner for the Democracy and Boundary Commission Wales, and chair of the Electoral Management Board Wales.
As chief executive of Wrexham CBC Ian oversaw the growth of Wrexham as a place including leading: the achievement of city status; runner up in the UK City of Culture competition 2025; the award of a £160m investment zone; the philanthropic investment from the US into Wrexham reported to be worth £500m; the commercial agreement for the re-development of the football ground in Wrexham and the oldest international football ground in the world, with the club owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Using these experiences Ian specialises in place growth and leadership, systems leadership, adaptive leadership, public narrative, inclusive economic growth, social growth, sports and cultural sector development.