Academic and Professional Qualifications:
| BSc |
Chemistry – Imperial College |
| PhD |
Inorganic Chemistry/Organic Magnetic Materials - University of Durham |
| MRSC |
Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry |
| CChem |
Chartered Chemist |
Experience:
Ian earned his PhD studying unique magnetic inorganic compounds. In post-doctoral work, he prepared materials, achieving a record Curie transition temperature for any material without metal atoms. Published in the 1990s, this research remains influential in the field of "organic magnets.”
Ian then spent two and a half years with a forensic consultancy providing scientific advice to the legal profession, insurers and other entities, dealing mainly with criminal forensic matters, but also with occupational health and safety, chemical issues and fire/explosion investigations involving chemical plant, vehicles, buildings and personal injury.
Ian joined Burgoynes in 1996 and has investigated over 750 fires and explosions within domestic and industrial premises, on board ships and pleasure craft, underground and in plant and machinery. These include fires involving domestic appliances, electrical supply and distribution equipment, agricultural machinery, heat producing appliances, materials susceptible to self-heating, arson, industrial plant and a variety of explosions on land, underground and on pleasure craft.
Between 2007 and 2022 Ian worked in fire and explosion investigation in New Zealand, initially as a specialist working for a large firm of Loss Adjusters and for the last 13 years operating his own business, dealing with land-based and marine losses throughout New Zealand and in Australia. In 2022 he re-joined Burgoynes as a consultant working in both the UK and in New Zealand on a wide variety of losses, both marine and land-based.
Ian has prepared reports for the New Zealand government, loss adjusters, insurers, multinational blue chip companies and solicitors in anticipation of civil and criminal litigation. He has prepared written evidence in accordance with part 35 of the Civil Procedure Rules in the UK and the High Court Rules in New Zealand. He has wide experience of advising legal professionals in the UK, Northern Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. He has presented expert evidence in the High Court, County Court and Construction Court in the UK, in addition to the District and High Courts in New Zealand.