Ian has been a Trustee of the MS Society since 2005.  He sat in on the Investment and F&A Committees, is a member of the Research Network and is the Treasurer for the Board.

Ian has had MS for 20 years (now secondary progressive) and is married with two children.  Ian's early career was spent working for the not-for-profit sector where he was parliamentary officer for a charity promoting local democracy having previously worked for a community law centre.  Prior to his early retirement in 2005, he spent 10 years as an economist in the City of London.

Since retiring Ian has also become involved with two other charities (both supporting disadvantaged young people), and has also been carrying out voluntary work for the MS International Federation.

Ian has supported the run-down in the Society's investments in favour of higher research spending, and believes the UK Society should lobby, alone or with other neurological charities, for more government resources as well as expanding its own research spending.

The Society also needs to support those whose lives are severely affected by MS and research spending needs also to focus on this area.  Furthermore, any curtailment of welfare entitlements must be resisted. We must ensure the newly diagnosed are supported and that there is high quality respite care for carers as well as people with MS.