Ian is a Principal Scientist at the INR with over ten years’ experience. He manages the INR’s Wetland Ecological and Terrestrial Ecological Themes. His qualifications include a BSc Honours Degree in Zoology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and an MSc Degree in Veterinary Science from the University of Pretoria. He is a registered Professional Natural Scientist in the fields of Ecological and Zoological Science. His primary interest is in wetland ecology, where he has gained extensive experience in the assessment, management and monitoring of wetlands. He also has a keen interest in biodiversity, ecosystem services and natural resource management, with sound experience in biodiversity assessments, integrated catchment management, sustainable land management, and community-based natural resource management. He has worked on projects in South Africa, Lesotho, Malawi and Mozambique. Ian has authored and co-authored over fifty consultancy reports, which include research reports, information booklets and peer reviewed publications. He has also presented at national conferences including the SANBI Biodiversity Planning Forum, SASAQS Conference, National Wetland Indaba, WRC Symposium, and the IAIAsa Conference.

Examples of recent projects Ian has managed include:

• The development of a guideline for determining appropriate buffer zones for rivers, wetlands and estuaries (WRC project);
• The development of an Integrated Catchment Management Plan for the Letseng-la-Letsie catchment in Lesotho, Lesotho’s only RAMSAR site (Millennium Challenge Corporation funded project); and
• The aquatic and wetland assessment for the proposed RBM Zulti South mineral lease area, which also included the development of a wetland rehabilitation and management plan.

Ian has also been involved in a range of other projects, recent examples include:

• The development of Resource Quality Objectives for water resources in the Upper and Lower Vaal Water Management Areas, where he developed the RQOs for wetlands (Department of Water and Sanitation funded project);
• Identifying climate change adaptation strategies and building capacity for adaptation in the Lesotho Highlands Mountain Catchments to improve the resilience of livelihoods and ecosystem services, where he focused on the ecosystem component (USAID Southern Africa funded project); and
• A water secure future for Southern Africa – Applying the Ecosystem Approach in the Orange-Senqu Basin, where he provided technical support to the Lesotho component to this transboundary project (USAID funded project).

Ian is currently a member of two WRC steering committees and is a reviewer of WRC proposals, and has also been a reviewer for Water SA. He is the vice-chair of the KZN Wetlands Forum and is a member of the Southern African Society of Aquatic Scientists.