Whilst running his business consultancy with his wife, Ian became involved in the Transition Network looking for local solutions to the challenge of climate change. Based in the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, the obvious potential solution was the use of waterpower. A combination of leading a project to try to reinstate hydropower at an industrial site as a community energy enterprise, and researching the past, present and potential use of waterpower in the world heritage site, ultimately led to his PhD research project, 'Climate change mitigation: Learning from the past to unlock the hydropower potential of the Derbyshire Derwent catchment'.

Ian's talks incorporate PhD findings (completed in December 2024) relating to the past, present and future potential use of waterpower and also the stewardship of the river.