Ian Barham

Ian has established a reputation for making things happen in Buckinghamshire since first arriving in the county almost 25 years ago.

As Leisure, Culture and Tourism Manager at Aylesbury Vale District Council (AVDC) he was integral to the development of the Swan Pool and Aqua Vale Leisure Centres, he helped establish a rural arts programme that still thrives today and he delivered the first commercial visitor guides and website covering Bucks. By developing a ground-breaking cultural strategy he was able to help AVDC secure millions of pounds of developer contributions for the community infrastructure required to support growth.

This experience led Ian to take on the challenge of managing Buckinghamshire’s preparations for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, a challenge he relished. Ian helped make Dorney Lake the most popular of all of the Games venues and Stoke Mandeville the most successful of all international training camp destinations, and helped Buckinghamshire businesses secure over £70 million in Games related contracts.

Since the Games he has helped secure a permanent Olympic legacy for Buckinghamshire. Stoke Mandeville’s position as the Birthplace of the Paralympic Movement will now be celebrated every two years as the only permanent location in the lighting of the Paralympic Flame.