Jon’s career spans 30+ years and includes over 20 years management experience. He has been engaged in many international projects and worked widely in Africa and South Asia. Until September 2014 Jon headed up the IDS Knowledge Services Department. From 2010-2013 as Director of the Mobilising Knowledge for Development Programme, he oversaw a multi disciplinary team from across IDS that delivered a capacity development programme working with many international partners in Africa and Asia. These included Research Institutions, Universities, NGOs, and libraries, and the aim was to develop the capacity and effectiveness of ‘Knowledge intermediaries’ to strengthen policy and practice. Jon had responsibility for a wide range of knowledge mobilisation projects, and most recently led IDS's work on the 'Global Open Knowledge Hub (GOKH) project. Jon has now gone freelance and offers consultancy, training and capacity development services focussing particularly on needs within developing countries, and the role digital technologies play in supporting education and knowledge sharing.
The focus of much of Jon’s work has been on capacity development and change management, and he has a lot of experience of working with the Knowledge Sector and other partner institutions in the areas of research to policy to action, and of innovative use of ICTs for Development. In his earlier roles with University of London and with IDS Jon has worked extensively in the development and leadership of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) courses and materials and collaborated with a wide range of global partners to develop capacity. During eight years living and working in Nepal Jon was involved in a range of knowledge and NGO sector capacity development projects in South Asia (supported by ICIMOD) and played a significant role in the early development of Kathmandu University.