Sir Ian Taylor

Raised in a small East Coast village, Sir Ian Taylor experienced the arrival of electricity at his home at age seven in 1957, followed by the telephone a few years later. Just three years after these transformative developments, New Zealand welcomed its first computer—marking the beginning of a digital revolution he would become a significant part of.

In 1990, Ian founded Animation Research Ltd (ARL) in Dunedin. Starting with little more than a handshake agreement with the Vice Chancellor of the University of Otago, ARL made its mark by purchasing its first hard drive for $15,000. The technological milestones continued, with their computer for the 1992 America's Cup the size of a small fridge and costing half a million dollars. Today, the same capabilities fit in a mobile phone, illustrating ARL’s role in driving technological progress.

ARL has since become a global leader in innovative technology solutions, covering major sports events worldwide and branching into diverse ventures.

In 2019, Ian launched the Land of Voyagers project, which he considers his most significant work. This initiative celebrates the Polynesian journey to Aotearoa, aiming to educate New Zealanders about the extraordinary voyages of their Polynesian ancestors.

Ian’s contributions have been widely recognised with a number of accolades at the highest level over many years. In 2021, Ian was knighted as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to broadcasting, business and community.

Despite all his accolades, Ian remains modest, claiming to possess no special skills and attributing his success to the fortunate timing of being in the right place with the right people.