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Ian is Professor in Clinical Psychology at the University of Auckland, where he teaches clinical, forensic, child and adolescent psychology. His specialist clinical and research interests are in child and adolescent mental health, childhood trauma and youth justice, building on more than 30 years’ experience working with children and adolescents and their families.
Initially as a general and psychiatric nurse, then as a specialist clinical psychologist, he has worked with children and adolescents with severe conduct problems and trauma, in both family and criminal-justice settings, and was involved for 15 years in programmes for adolescents with harmful sexual behaviour and children who deliberately light fires.
His academic position is an opportunity to build robust, applicable knowledge in these areas, including in training new forensic and clinical psychologists, and advising Fire & Emergency on child firelighters and Oranga Tamariki on child offenders.
Ian continues to practice part-time as a clinical psychologist. He has received numerous awards for his work in this field, and in 2018 was made an Honorary Fellow of the New Zealand Psychological Society for his services to Psychology.
Ian is New Zealand’s Chief Science Advisor to the Justice Sector (Ministry of Justice, Police and Department of Corrections). In 2020, he was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Clinical Psychology and Youth Justice.