Ian
Howard

In his position as Co-Founder, Strategic Development, Ian advises on strategic partnerships and the development of new services for our customers. In particular, he spends a lot of his time looking for new ways to use technology to improve the lives of those in developing countries.

Though he is a technologist at heart, Ian is best at management and team building, while he still finds some time to tinker with technology. Combining his passion for economic development with an aptitude for re-purposing technology, he has pioneered the use of processes and systems to address the needs of under-served markets.

After successfully managing a USAID-funded Information and Communications Techonology for development program in Mali for two years, Ian continued to apply these skills as a consultant to major international nongovernmental organizations.

An author and contributor to several concept papers and to the book Wireless Networking for the Developing World, Ian is a frequent presenter at ICT for development conferences and is often employed to lead ICT projects and initiatives.

Prior to his work in ICT for development, Ian worked at the University of Waterloo as a specialist in core open source systems, network systems and research computing. Additionally, he has consulted with universities, large firms like Qantas Airlines and other private sector clients. His work has focused on the use of open source systems and networking.

Before working at the University, Ian was a paratrooper, serving in the regular and reserve military of the Canadian Forces.

Ian speaks both English and French fluently.

Core Areas of Technical Expertise: · Project Management (Certified Project Management Professional) · ICT Design, Assessment and Strategy · FM Radio and ICT · Rural Communications and Computing · Network Design (Core telecom infrastructure, networks, VSAT) · Wireless Networking · Business Design and Strategy · Environmental Sustainability