Ian Ross

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT IAN ROSS

Ian is a Global PFASs Practice Lead and technical specialist in managing contaminated land sites, focused solely on PFASs management for the last 10 years in a global role. He directs the delivery of site assessments and development of management strategies to mitigate perceived risks.He has >30 years’ experience in the environmental impact of xenobiotics. He first evaluated solutions to manage PFOS in 2005 after the Buncefield fire near London, then started developing PFOS destruction technologies whilst working on a PFASs project for Guernsey airport. He has written over 100 articles, academic publications, and book chapters on PFAS, including the 204-page chapter on PFAS in the Emerging Contaminants Handbook, the CONCAWE PFASs Guidance and CL:AIRE TB19 and TB22 PFASs guidance. He won the 2016 Brownfield Briefing award for the world first commercial use of the TOP assay.He is currently focused on PFAS chemical analysis, investigation, conceptual site model (CSM) development, fire suppression system decontamination and remediation. With a strong technical background he has focused on solutions for conventional and emerging issues using state of the art, more sustainable and cost effective approaches to solve complex problems.Ian has worked on a wide range of contaminated sites requiring multi-disciplinary involvement for both private and public clients across a range of sectors (oil and gas, defence, chemical and pharmaceutical). His passion for environmental chemistry enables development of thought leadership positions by being ahead of academics and regulators on emerging issues.Ian has extensive international experience of contaminated land projects in multiple regulatory settings from working in Europe, US, Canada, China, South Africa and Australia. He has experience acting as an expert witness and provides governmental advice on PFASs. Ian is a biochemist by training and started R&D examining the biodegradation of xenobiotics in 1992 and worked for Blagden Chemicals, ICI and the DSTL whilst at Aberystwyth, Bangor and Cambridge Universities. He designed and implemented the world’s first in situ remediation of carbon disulphide using persulfate, which won the 2011 UK Brownfield Briefing award for best in situ remediation project and the Italian Sapiem 2012 Innovation award. He designed a combined soil washing and chemical oxidation project for a landfill contaminated with pharmaceutical waste which won a Brownfield Briefing awards in 2012 and a treatment train approach for groundwater impacts on the same site which won in 2015.