Ian was formerly the Deputy Chief Executive Officer at the UK Space Agency where he was the Senior Responsible Owner in government for the delivery of all national civil space programmes including launch from UK and the Space Based PNT Programme and led the space exploration, science and regulatory areas. Prior to joining the Agency he had a career in the Royal Navy as a Weapon Engineer and communications specialist, serving in multiple warships and joint roles, including the British Embassy, Washington DC. Amongst his latter appointments he was programme director for the UK's Skynet secure telecommunications satellite programme in Joint Forces Command and was the Royal Navy’s Chief Information Officer as well as being accountable for maritime Information Warfare capability and the head of the Weapon Engineering and Communications branch, some 2000 personnel. Following a sabbatical to SE Asia and rebuilding his own aerobatic aircraft, he set up his own space advisory and consultancy business, Celestial Fix Limited.