Ian Forrester

Ian Forrester is a well known and likeable character on the digital scene in the UK. Living in Manchester, UK where he works for the BBC's R&D north lab. He specialises in open innovation and new disruptive opportunities; by creating value via open engagement and collaborations with startups, universities, early adopters and hackers.

His current research is into the area of future narrative and storytelling, with a technology he calls Perceptive Media. Its a new approach to broadcasting; which pairs the best of broadcast with the best of internet technology; creating a experiences like sitting around a camp fire telling stories.

Ian is proud to have a non-traditional background in interaction design which he crossed over with development using XML & Semantic web technologies. He tends to live a few years in the future, and his mind is wired for spotting links and opportunities using open technologies/business models.

His diverse background makes him adaptive and flexible in any situation; with a relaxed and creative leadership style. He takes sustainability, data ethics and human potential seriously in his leadership and collaborations.

Previously a founder of the dataportability.org group, social geek events, including London Geekdinners, BarCampLondon, London Hackday, Edinburgh TV Un-Festival and Over the Air. Ian has a proven track record for making the unthinkable happen and actively pushes himself into new ground always.

He tends to work best in the open A keen blogger he has kept up writing on his own personal blog cubicgarden.com for 14+ years.