Ian graduated with a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Queensland in 1989. Post-docs at the Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Department of Physics, Australian Defence Force Academy, UNSW (Canberra), Department of Chemistry, University of Wollongong and the Department of Chemistry, University of Sydney, followed. Ian started at Macquarie University, in the then Department of Chemistry, in 2000.

Ian's interests lie broadly in the field of environmental chemistry, particularly gas phase and atmospheric chemistry, and chemistry education. He has conducted research on greenhouse gas fluxes at the atmosphere-soil interface, greenhouse gas emissions from livestock, formation and characterisation of secondary organic aerosols, and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from plants and animals. At the moment his primary area of research is the development of new attractant compounds for population monitoring and control of insects, particularly fruit fly, and investigating pheromone profiles of these insects.

Ian was one of the founders of what is now the Advancing Science by Enhancing Laboratory Learning (ASELL) project. He has contributed to the development of the Chemistry Threshold Learning Outcome (CTLO) and is engaged in improving assessment methods in Chemistry.

Ian is a Director of the National Indigenous Science Education Program (NISEP). NISEP’s aim is to help low socioeconomic communities change their youth’s attitudes towards, engagement with, and aspirations for education. By using science engagement, NISEP seeks to provide Indigenous students with the skills and attitudes required to secure science and technology-based education and employment opportunities. 

Ian is a Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI), a past Chair of the RACI Chemical Education Division and a recipient of the RACI Pearson Educator of the Year (2009). He has also been awarded the Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence (2007), a Carrick (ALTC) Award for Australian University Teaching - Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2007), Carrick (ALTC) Award for Programs that Enhance Learning - Educational Partnerships and Collaborations with Other Organisations (2007), three-time finalist in the Eureka Awards for Promoting Understanding of Science (2007, 2008, 2009), an Australian Learning and Teaching Council Australian Awards for University Teaching: Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning - Educational Partnerships and Collaborations with Other Organisations (2011) and two-times finalist in the Australian Financial Review Higher Education Awards - Community Engagement (2016, 2017).