Biography:

Ian has more than 20 years consulting experience with a major focus in business and economic development as well as the development of corporate strategy.  He has extensive experience in the area of cost analysis and cost allocation at a company, industry and national level, and the evaluation of large capital projects.

Ian has worked with private and public corporations, not-for-profit organizations, First Nations and government institutions on a regional and national basis.  He adds depth to his management consulting and finance experience with a strong academic background consisting of an MBA, with a major in corporate finance and several areas of undergraduate studies pertinent to management.  Ian is a Certified Management Accountant, a seasoned facilitator and an experienced mediator. 

Ian has an extensive history in leading large complex projects for the firm, including the Canadian International Grains Institute – Centre of Excellence Feasibility, the Canadian Live Swine Exports to the US anti-dumping and countervail duty case, the Canadian Wheat Board Director Elections, the Canadian Wheat Board anti-dumping case on HRS, the Canadian Grain Commission evaluation of Mandatory Inward Inspection and Weighing services, the feasibility of a new indoor 30-45,000 seat stadium and destination centre in Winnipeg.  His projects have involved many public and private sectors and have required an array of public and private stakeholder consultations.

He has consulted to economic and business development organizations of First Nations in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the NWT and is an ongoing advisor to many of these organizations.  Much of this work for First Nations is related to business and economic development, however Ian has also done extensive work with organizations in these regions to set their higher level strategies for economic development.

In agriculture, Ian has used his technical knowledge of the industry to consult to many large farm businesses and farm organizations in the areas of agricultural finance and is well known in Western Canada for his knowledge in this area.  He also consults to local, provincial and federal governments to evaluate the financial and economic impact of government programs and policies in several agricultural sectors.

More recently Ian has used his knowledge of finance and economics as it applies to renewable resources to conduct business analysis in the biomass and biofuels industry including extensive analysis of cost of production and the supply of raw product to each of wood biomass, ethanol and biodiesel in several major alternative fuel projects. In corporate finance Ian has worked with many organizations to develop plans and negotiate investment and banking for new and expanded business enterprises.

Ian has served as a Director of the Winnipeg Chapter of the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists and has served as their representative on the Provincial Board of Directors.  Over the years Ian has served on the boards of several local community sports organizations; was a member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Farm Debt Review Board, and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of CMA Manitoba and is a member of the Management Review