Description: Immediately after gaining his post grad Diploma in Architecture as part of his ‘RIBA Part II’ , Ian was appointed by UK charity Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), to act as in-country head architect in the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Maldives. Between 1986 and 1988, his responsibilities whilst living and working there included the design and site construction supervision for all of the primary and secondary school building projects planned throughout the capital Male and outlying atolls to UNICEF design standards. He returned to UK in 1988 to complete his ‘RIBA Part III’ professional practice exam and gain UK legal ‘architect’ status, before then returning to work within the Maldives tourist island design industry for a further two years from 1990 to 1992.

Typical school projects involved whilst volunteering for VSO were the (pencil-drawn) designs and construction of Thaajuddeen Primary School. The completed as-built designs later featured in the commemorative Maldives 25th Anniversay of Independence Calendar in 1990.