Presenter & Producer
Standing Places is presented and produced by Ivor; a permanently confused hybrid of multiple influences. Like many of his fellow Londoners these days, Ivor now finds himself part of the out-of-touch, cosmopolitan, liberal elite (despite the fact that he hates organic kale and can find a point of connection with just about anyone).
Growing up Ivor lived in five countries in both hemispheres and attended a dozen different schools. So his Skype calls, FaceTime chats, WhatsApp messages, tweets, likes and general digital anxieties span much of the globe.
For 16 years he has been doing business across Europe, Africa and Asia, working alongside Mayors, Parliamentarians and business leaders. Whether he's in a town hall in Mumbai, a boardroom in Islamabad or a council chamber in Kampala there's a good chance he'll be talking about the story of the place he's in, listening to as many of its voices as he can, and helping to imagine and plan its future.
“I almost shook Ivor’s hand once but my Transport Minister got in the way. Apparently Ivor was gutted. But I did hear that he spent a whole weekend hanging out with Desmond Tutu. So you know, swings and roundabouts.”
Ivor believes travel is one of life's greatest teachers and humour its best storyteller. He also believes that improving our understanding of the forces that shape our identities and our sense of place in the world can help us find better points of connection with others. Oh, and this can also prevent us from electing beef-witted birdbrains into high office.
Ivor is known in the Chinese media as 'Ivory' and given how popular ivory is in China he takes that as a massive compliment (as opposed to an uncorrected typo by a journalist). He likes guitars, road trips and avocados. He doesn't like horror films, liquorice and politicians who build walls.
