Minister

Ian Walker was elected Member for Mansfield at the state election held on 24 March 2012 and was appointed Assistant Minister for Planning Reform on 12 April 2012. He was then appointed Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts on 20 February 2013.

Ian commenced his legal career with Queensland law firm Cannan & Peterson in 1976, becoming a partner in 1984. The firm became Sly & Weigall Cannan & Peterson.

In 2000 he became Managing Partner of the Brisbane Office guiding the Queensland firm to a merger to become the national law firm, Deacons. Ian was a member of Deacon's National Board and subsequently National Business Unit leader of the Property, Environment, Planning Construction and Engineering Group.

Deacons merged with international law firm Norton Rose on 1 January 2010, and Ian became Australian Leader of the Government Practice.

Ian was secretary of the Urban Development Institute of Queensland (Qld)—a body representing the state's property industry—for 7 years and in 2008 was appointed a Life Member of that organisation.

Active in Queensland's Arts scene, he chaired the Board of Queensland's successful chamber orchestra the ‘Camerata of St John's’ between 2007 and 2011.

He served for some years as trustee of the Lord Mayor's Community Trust—helping Brisbane's youth in need.

Ian has a wife, Heather, and 2 adult children. Ian and Heather are long-time season members of the Broncos and for many years they have been season subscribers to Opera Queensland.