Ian is a life member and committee member of LWQS, and helped develop this Symposium. He was formerly chair of the society and led the transition to LWQS from the Lakeweed Control Society, as well as the first symposia in 2001. Ian was an MP for Tarawera for 12 years. He has considerable governance experience as former chair of the Earthquake Commission and the Parliamentary Public Expenditure Committee. For over two decades he has worked in earthquake insurance and related emergency management.