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Ian Foxley

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PhD Researcher, University of York

Ian is a Veteran with 24 years’ service in the British Army including two operational tours in Northern Ireland and in Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping mission. He spent a further 14 years in the telecommunications industry until 2010 where, as Programme Director for a £1.96billion UK/Saudi government defence procurement contract, he uncovered corrupt payments to the Cayman Islands and blew the whistle to the Serious Fraud Office. He founded and chaired Whistleblowers UK from 2012 – 2015 as a Public Service Organisation to support current and future UK based whistleblowers, and to campaign for greater protection against the detriments incurred from Speaking Truth to Power.

Ian completed his MA in Applied Human Rights at the University of York (2017) and is currently researching a PhD at the University of York, on the topic of: 'The Whistleblowing Dilemma: an investigation into the decisions made by public officials when confronted by ethical challenges in foreign defence procurement contracts – a case study of the SANGCOM Project'. His research interests lie in Speaking Truth to Power and, especially, processes which offer insights into whistleblowing and responses to it. His ambition is to establish an Inspector General / Commissioner for the Protection of Whistleblowers in the UK and an international network to ensure enduring protection for those who Speak Truth to Power.

He lives in Sheriff Hutton, North Yorkshire and is married to Emma. They have three grown children who are well dispersed around the world in London, New York, and New Zealand.

Experience

  • 2017–2019
    Postgraduate Student (MA & PhD), Centre for Applied Human Rights, University of York
  • 2012–2015
    Chairman, Whistleblowers UK
  • 2010–2010
    Programme Director, GPT Special Project Management Limited
  • 1993–1998
    Lieutenant Colonel, British Army

Education

  • 2017 
    University of York, MA (Applied Human Rights)
  • 1999 
    Institute of Electrical Engineers, Fellowship
  • 1998 
    Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, Freeman
  • 1995 
    Institute of Management, Membership
  • 1995 
    Salisbury College , Post Graduate Diploma (Management)
  • 1993 
    Institute of Electrical Engineers, Membership and Chartered Engineer
  • 1988 
    Amry Command and Staff College, Camberley, PSc (Dagger)
  • 1981 
    Royal MIlitary College of Science, Shrivenham, 2.1 BSc Hons (Applied Science)

Professional Memberships

  • IEE
  • IOM