Ian started his career in 1983 at Houseman (Burnham) Limited based in the North East of England, mainly involved in the treatment of steam boilers, cooling towers and closed heating and chilled systems. He became increasingly involved with Legionella control following the outbreak at Stafford Hospital in 1985. After a couple of years out of the industry, involved initially in special chemical waste and then the cleaning & disinfection of farms following the cull during the Foot & Mouth crisis, he returned to the industry. In 2004 he joined Hartlepool Borough Council, in 2006 to 2009 working between Hartlepool and Gateshead Council running the in-house legionella control services. From 2009 to 2013 he worked full time for Gateshead before returning to Hartlepool Borough Council in 2013.
In an attempt to improve the knowledge of officers within other neighbouring councils Ian was a founder member of the North East Council Legionella Focus Group which is the largest organisation of its type and attracts the best of contributors to the seminars from the industry.