Due to his transportation focus, Ian became one of the first accredited electrical inspectors (surveyors) by Qld Transport (later to become Maritime Safety Qld – MSQ) and also achieved electrical design accreditation, all around the mid ’90’s.
His passion for the marine industry saw him accepting a steering committee role with the Qld Boat Builders and Allied Trade Association (QBATA) in the early 1990’s, membership of Q Marine during the ’90’s and later, a full member of the Institute of Electrical Inspectors (IEI), as well as both elected vice-president and later, treasurer of the Marine Surveyors Association (MSA) in the 2000’s.
During his time as vice-president of the MSA, Ian was involved in the transition from State based domestic commercial vessel registration to a single national jurisdiction under the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and he represented both the MSA surveyors and MSQ at various transitional meetings.
Concurrently, Ian was involved with the development of a marine surveyor competency training package in conjunction with the Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council (TLISC).
Through the 2000’s, Ian fielded requests and delivered lectures to a variety of organisations on the application of electrical safety and compliance including IBEX in Florida USA for the US National Marine Manufacturers Association, the NMSC inaugural safety conference and to NSW Roads and Maritime surveyors.
He was also asked to author a comparison between the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) electrical standards, the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) electrical standards and Australian/New Zealand (AS/NZS) electrical standards for the Brussels based International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA).
Being one of the first accredited marine electrical surveyors in Australia had a variety of positive effects but one that was possibly never envisaged was the role of mentoring to industry.
This mentoring through the ’90’s led Ian into electrical training roles and he fondly states he has had the privilege of teaching electrical theory and practice to many apprentices, trainees and tradepersons both in Australia via TAFE and private RTO’s as well for our nearest neighbours in Papua New Guinea with AusAID and private industry.
Ian was asked to be a sitting board member with the PNG Dept. of Labour and Industrial Relations (for the National Apprenticeship and Trade Testing Board – NATTB) and continued to carry out that role until Covid19 border closures brought his term to a close.
He holds AMSA accreditation for electrical surveying for extra low voltage, low voltage and high voltage installations for design, initial survey and periodic survey.
His experience within the electrical industry is extensive and Ian’s services have been sought for industry/Gov’t liaison, policy formulation, standards development, training, mediation and as an expert electrical witness in the Australian Federal Court, Northern Territory Coroners Court and the PNG National Court.