Experience and Training

Besides having the usual A Levels, AO levels and O Levels, Ian is a Licentiate of the Ambulance Service Institute (LASI), Member of the Emergency Planning Society (MEPS), Member of the Business  Continuity Institute (MBCI), Member of the Institute of Civil Protection and Emergency Management (MICPEM) and he also has Associate membership to the College of Paramedics. He has successfully passed the written exam for the Certificate in Emergency Management issued by the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM).

He has a Diploma in Health Emergency Planning  (DipHEP) and in 2014 he passed the NVQ Level 4 Diploma in Spectator Safety Management. He has also successfully undertaken two courses in Spectator Safety at the Cabinet Office Emergency Planning College, one of which was in conjunction with the Football Association. He is qualified to the level to become the Safety Officer at any Football Association stadium in the UK.
He has attended various other courses including an MOD Aircraft Post Crash Management Symposium, Strategic Management in a Crisis, Operating Emergency Control Rooms, Tactical Management, Tactical Management in a Crisis, Surviving a Public Enquiry, Use of Media in an Emergency, Emergency Planning, Business Continuity Management, Animal Diseases and Planning Exercises.

Ian has been on the panel of subject matter experts for several Project Argus events which were developed by the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and have included those for Town Centres, Major Events and Health services. He has attended Project Griffin (Terrorism Awareness) training led by Sussex Police including an update session. He has been a Project Griffin (Counter Terrorism/ Terrorism trainer for the NHS.

Ian is a qualified ‘Blue Light’ Response Driver and has been a MiDAS Trainer/Assessor.

He is an Ambulance Technician and regularly undertakes work and continuing professional development (CPD) to keep his skills current and well practised. He also works for other medical companies providing cover at all sizes of events. He had successfully completed the Resuscitation Council UK  Immediate Life Support (ILS) Course and the Paediatric Immediate Life Support (PILS) course. He revalidated these courses several times in subsequent years. He holds a current Emergency Ambulance qualification and has over 20 years front line A&E (999) ambulance experience. He regularly undertakes mandatory training for both the NHS and the private medical company with whom he undertakes Event, Film & Television work.

Ian has been trained as a CAA (Low Category) Fire Fighter, holds a current CAA Ground to Air Radio Operators Licence and an SIA Door Supervisors Licence. He is trained and certificated by the National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA) in facilitating structured debriefs after an event or incident.

In his NHS role, he has been a trainer for decontamination procedures for patients or staff following a chemical, biological or radiological release (CBRNe) as well as training NHS Managers, Staff and Directors in Tactical Response, Decision Making, Major Incident Response and other subjects.

During the Covid Pandemic (2020-2022) Ian has continued to work as a Tactical & Strategic Advisor to the senior managers of a busy NHS Trust, and EPRR lead (Emergency Planning, Response and Recovery). During much of this this time (March 2020- Dec 2021) he was on call 24/7 and 7 days a week to support Strategic decision makers in the NHS as well as representing the Trust at numerous multi-agency pandemic response groups in the Local Resilience Forum (LRF). During the Lockdowns Ian also went back to front line NHS Response as a Primary Care Technician attending home visits on behalf of GP’s, often treating some of the sickest Covid patients or referring them for hospital admission. As Lockdowns were lifted, Ian worked closely with a number of businesses ensuring they were ‘Covid Safe’ and prepared and able to resume trading with appropriate documentation, risk assessments and warning signs which complied with Government and Health Service rules and guidance.

All Ian’s qualifications and certificates are available for clients to view on request.

As part of his NHS role, Ian has been a member of several multi-agency Safety Advisory Groups (SAG) looking at events across the NHS Trust area in which he works, he therefore has a full understanding of exactly what the Fire, Police, Coastguard, the wider NHS and Ambulance Service are looking for in terms of Event Safety and Planning.

In previous roles as Deputy City Emergency Planning Officer for Brighton & Hove City Council  and Emergency Planning Officer for Chichester District Council he worked on many large events including London to Brighton Bike Ride, Brighton Pride, Party in the Park, Big Beach Boutique 2, Goodwood Festival of Speed, Goodwood Revival, Music Events at Country homes or National Trust properties and other music festivals as well as numerous Firework and Bonfire events. He understands what Local Authorities are expecting from Event Organisers in relation to Health & Safety but also in regards to Contingency Planning, Licensing and Food Safety. Being able to see the requirements from ‘both sides’ he has often been able to offer solutions that are effective for public safety, acceptable to the Authorities but most importantly to an Event Organiser, cost effective.

Ian has also undertaken the role of night time Gold Commander (Strategic Lead) for Brighton & Hove City Council during two Government Party Conferences as part of a multi-agency strategic command centre and part of the medical response team for a third Party conference.He has also been the Silver Commander (Tactical Lead) at a number of incidents, including acting on behalf of Event Organisers following aircraft accidents, fires and other potentially serious accidents, all were resolved swiftly and professionally and with praise from the local emergency services.