Professor Ian Harden

From 1976 to 1996, Ian Harden pursued an academic career at the University of Sheffield, becoming a professor of law in 1995.

He published on a wide range of public law matters, including the UK and EU constitutions, institutions and structures of accountability in the public sector, budgetary procedures, public contracts, state subsidies, public sector audit and European economic and monetary union. His research included interdisciplinary work with economists and political scientists.

In 1996, he joined the newly-established European Ombudsman and served as Head of the Legal Department from 2000, before becoming Secretary General in 2006. He retired from the Ombudsman's office at the end of July 2015.

He is a member of the Steering Committee of the Research Network on European Administrative Law (ReNEUAL) and working on a number of ReNEUAL projects.