Ian has a long history of involvement in international affairs and broader national security issues. He served for 32 years in the Departments of Defence and Foreign Affairs and Trade, the latter including diplomatic postings in Malaysia, Chile, Thailand and Japan.
On leaving government in 1997, Ian became a consultant, and much of his work again focused on international political, economic and strategic issues.
Since 1997, Ian has also been an active member of various related think tanks and other associations. These include especially the AIIA where he served as ACT Branch President from 2008-2012, and subsequently as a Presidential Associate. He has lectured and published widely, particularly on West, Central and South Asia affairs, including Afghanistan and Iran.