Ian has operated an Archival Consultancy servicing state and local government agencies and ministerial offices for 20 years.

Prior to that he was Director of the South Australian Office of National Archives where he was involved in the establishment of a joint repository with the Public Record Office of South Australia (now State Records).

Before he moved to Adelaide he re-established a moribund Northern Territory Administration Archives, then established the Northern Territory Office of the National Archives (Commonwealth Archives Office, then Australian Archives in other guises).

Ian is a professional member of the Australian Society of Archivists.