Professor Dr. Ray Ison

is since 1994 Professor of Systems at the Open University UK (OU), a founding member of the Applied Systems Thinking in Practice Group and President of the IFSR. Ray headed the OU Systems Department from 1995-2008, then from 2000-2004 successfully coordinated a major interdisciplinary 5th Framework program researching social learning for sustainable river catchment management as well as running an EPSRC funded Systems Practice for Managing Complexity Network. From 2008-2015 he was also Professor at the Monash Sustainability Institute, in Melbourne, Australia where he created and led the Systemic Governance Research Program.

His research field is systems praxeology, institutional innovation and systemic governance. He has authored or co-authored a wide range of publications and has a wide range of significant national and international appointments based on his academic standing.