Ian leads Aquatera’s input into a number of strategic international initiatives focussed on better understanding, managing risk and reducing uncertainty around the potential impacts of ocean energy developments on the marine environment. This has included the development of the Scottish Government’s IMPACT tool and strategic input into the International Energy Agency’s Ocean Energy Systems Environmental programme since 2015. Ian has held the role of Secretariat Project Manager for the UK’s Offshore Renewables Joint Industry Programme (ORJIP) for Ocean Energy since its inception in 2015, working with its established Network of 80 organisations across 22 countries to help reduce consenting risks for the wave and tidal sectors around through a coordinated approach to strategic research.

Ian has also provided strategic technical and advisory support to the IEA OES Environmental programme since 2015. Since joining Aquatera in 2007, Ian has acted as the Consents Manager and Licence Agent for a number of wave and tidal deployments at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC). This involved the production of a number of Environmental Assessments, Navigational Risk Assessments, HRAs, Decommissioning Plans and Project Environmental Management Plans, requiring consultation and negotiation with regulators, agencies and stakeholders. As the Consents Manager, Ian was responsible for the implementation and delivery of the PEMPs and discharge of consent conditions.

Ian leads Aquatera’s input into offshore renewables and aquaculture related consenting work including the delivery of bespoke and fit for purpose EIAs, HRAs and EMMPs, recently including the EMMP for the Morlais Demonstration Zone in Wales (ongoing), a wave energy deployment in Orkney (2021), tidal energy project off the west coast of Scotland (2021), two floating wind projects off the North Coast of Scotland, a 200MW tidal energy development in the Pentland Firth, 200MW tidal energy development in Orkney, 10MW wave array off the North Coast of Scotland and four commercial scale aquaculture developments in Orkney. Ian leads Aquatera’s renewable energy project development activities in Southeast Asia through its subsidiary ‘Oceantera’, a project development company based in Singapore and the Philippines.

In this role, Ian leads the teams work in developing a portfolio of offshore renewable energy projects, hybrid energy systems for off-grid islands, and strategic leadership for the company’s ongoing maritime decarbonisation initiative, which will see Oceantera deliver small scale electric boats suitable for local community applications.