Ian Gardner

UK Client Technical Leader and Industry 4.0 Architect, IBM

Staffordshire University London

Ian has over 25 years' consulting experience on large-scale, complex projects, and has worked for IBM for over 20 years. He is a distinguished Technical Specialist, Certified Technical Specialist, Expert Solutions Specialist, and an IBM Academic Ambassador. He is a chartered member of the British Computer Society. On top of this he is a member of the IBM Academy of Technology (AOT) which is a community of the best technical minds in IBM who provide innovation, technical advice and critiques as well as supporting cultural change across all business units and across the globe.

For the past five years Ian has led a large, high-profile proof of concept to create the factory of the future using industry 4.0 principles. This was the reference project in the 2017 UK Government's 'Made Smarter' report. In 2018, he was a finalist in the Times Management Consultancy Association (MCA) awards.

He works closely with the UK High Value Catapult Centres such as the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC). His role as an academic ambassador means that he works closely with Universities. He is chair of Sheffield University, Industry Advisory Board, a member of Staffordshire University, Advisory Board, and has lectured at Imperial College.

Academic qualifications

  • BA (Hons) Special Degree in Management Systems, University of Hull
  • Higher National Certificate (HNC), Business Administration and Management - Barnsley College for Further Education

Publications

  • Poor Quality Costs - IBM STech Amsterdam
  • Data Centre Migration and Consolidation - IBM Stech University Amsterdam
in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021