Ian gained a comprehensive energy engineering background at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland and subsequently developed a solid understanding of the interactions between energy, economics and the environment, while attending Scuola Superiore Enrico Mattei in Italy, sponsored by the Italian energy company, ENI.

In Romania he became involved in the technical and economic evaluation of energy efficiency investment projects. He has visited numerous sites throughout Romania in the industry and service sectors, identifying low-cost energy saving measures and assessing higher-cost energy efficiency investment opportunities. He is familiar with European energy efficiency policies and success stories, and with the technologies and measures that prove most successful in Romania’s transition economy.

He has been a consultant for multiple energy-related projects on behalf of European Union assistance programmes, including designing project Terms of Reference, coordinating teams of international experts and local consultants, transferring know-how and keeping high-level decision-makers informed.

Recently, as a project manager for energy and environment at the European Union’s Environment Agency, he gained a comprehensive knowledge of the environmental consequences of energy use, especially concerning air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. He assessed the environmental impact of energy use in the EU Member States and EU accession countries and also touched on the situation in the Newly Independent States. His responsibilities included policy assessment, the development of performance indicators, country benchmarking and the analysis of historical and forecasted trends, taking into account, among other things, the effects of market liberalisation and price reforms.

Ian is thirty-five and lives in Romania with his wife, Mihaela.