Ian McCloy was born in Nairobi in 1962, a year before Kenya’s independence from Britain. From an early age Ian’s father instilled in him an appreciation for the nature and culture of Africa, always optimistically asking “Ian, tell me where is a better place to live than here?”

Having obtained an Engineering Degree from the University of Cape Town, he joined Hoechst AG’s Graduate Development Programme in South Africa, remaining with this large German chemical company until they unbundled the business in 1999, and then taking up Management Buy Out opportunities presented by their departure from Africa.

Ian’s career has taken him to 22 African Countries; he has set-up businesses in 12 jurisdictions and worked in a wide spectrum of sectors, leading to a deep understanding of what makes business in Africa work. With his heart firmly implanted in the African Soil Ian has now decided to give back - by helping others making their projects sustainable in a development context.

From 2017 Ian has been actively involved with the College of Business and Economics at UJ. Currently working as the Senior Mentor at the Johannesburg Business School’s Centre for Entrepreneurship, and more specifically with the Raymond Ackerman Academy of Entrepreneurial Development, that recruits young people from disadvantaged communities and inspires them to become economically active by:

- Taking up further studies;

- Gaining meaningful employment; or,

- Starting an enterprise.

Ian believes that collaboration between organisations in the entrepreneurship eco-system and the between entrepreneurs themselves is the best way to catalyse development and works tirelessly to build these relationships.