I have authored a number of technical papers and book in the areas of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and technology based learning. The 4th edition of the internationally acclaimed "Introduction to GIS" published by Pearson - is now available.

Ian is the Knowledge Transfer Adviser for the North of Scotland, responsible for developing and managing a portfolio of successful Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) between businesses and academia. The KTP programme promotes business led, open innovation by connecting companies with academic expertise to enable them to grow their business.Ian has extensive economic development, business strategy, innovation and executive development experience and has held senior leadership positions in the private, public and academic sectors. Ian has a special interest in location-based technology and disruptive business models and holds an honorary position in the University of Aberdeen Business School where he supports student start-up activity. He is also a founding member of Coneeect EU, a collaboration of European Universities involved in championing entrepreneurship education.Prior to joining the KTN Ian secured and delivered a number of successful KTPs and has first-hand experience of delivering projects from both the business and academic perspective.Ian’s previous positions include MBA Programme Director at the University of Aberdeen Business School; Director and founder of The Ideas Academy Ltd, which specialised in helping organisations use their internal expertise to generate, resource and deliver new business ideas; Director of Growing Business and Skills with Scottish Enterprise Grampian, where he had leadership responsibility for the organisation’s portfolio of 300 high growth companies; and Director of Learning with BusinessLab Ltd, a pioneering open innovation company.Ian is the KTA for the following institutions: Abertay University; The University of Aberdeen; The University of Dundee; The University of the Highlands and Islands; The James Hutton Institute; Robert Gordon University; and The Rowett Institute.

I was previously MBA Programme Director and Senior Teaching Fellow in the Business School at the University of Aberdeen where I was involved in teaching new venture creation, leadership and strategy and led the development of the Global Online MBA.

Founder and lead 'Ideas Coach'At the Ideas Academy we specialise in time travel. Our aim; to help clients explore what their organisation and their customers will be doing in the future. As lead 'ideas' coach my objective is to help clients tap into the creativity within their own organisation and use this resource to identify new 'business ideas and opportunities'. Ideas that will shape their future.

I was Vice Chair of Aberdeen College and also the Convenor of the Human Resources Committee.