Professor Ray Ison was appointed Professor of Systems at The Open University in 1994, where he became internationally recognised for advancing Systems Thinking in Practice (STiP) and systemic governance. Following his retirement in 2023, he was named Professor Emeritus.

His career has been marked by interdisciplinary, collaborative scholarship spanning biophysical and social systems, with particular focus on governance, learning, and institutional innovation. At the OU, he led the Systems Department, directed the Environmental Decision Making program, and played a pivotal role in creating the UK’s first Level 7 Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship.

Prof. Ison is the author of several influential books, including The Hidden Power of Systems Thinking: Governance in a Climate Emergency (2020, with Ed Straw) and Systems Practice (2nd ed., 2017). His work has shaped international research initiatives on climate change, water governance, and sustainability across Europe, Australia, South Africa, and China.

He has received numerous honours, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Systems Society of India (2022), Fellowship of the Hellenic Society for Systemic Studies (2023), and multiple teaching and research awards. Since 2018, he has served as President of the International Federation for Systems Research, reflecting his leadership in the global systems community.