A different kind of partner: gospel-shaped partnerships for the slums of Kenya

​Ian Ratcliff practiced as an environmental and social justice lawyer in Australia for over 20 years. Then, in 2024, Ian exchanged the practice of law for the vocation of a missionary. Moving with his family to Nairobi, Kenya, Ian began his volunteer work with Banda Health (https://www.bandahealth.org/), an outreach of SIM Kenya.

​Ian will be in Melbourne for a short visit while on furlough. We've invited Ian to share his stories with us and we'll have an opportunity during the evening to talk about CLEAR, the charitable arm of the ACLS which since 2011 has been working alongside the UK Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship to provide legal aid, education, and advocacy for marginalised communities in Africa.

​A light dinner will be provided.

​About Ian

​Working as the Lead – Partnerships for Banda Health for the last two years, Ian engages with health clinics, churches and community organisations to develop gospel-shaped partnerships which can address the sometimes overwhelming social and spiritual realities facing slum and remote communities in Kenya. 

​Ian has combined this role with a position as the global lead for environmental action for SIM International. 

​As a Christian, Ian developed his faith in the Anglican Church. He has subsequently worshipped and served in a variety of churches. Ian’s sending church is a volunteer-run, non-denominational church in the Byron Hinterland, where Ian was the ‘Justice Gardener’. He has a strong commitment to social and environmental justice as an outworking of his faith. Ian’s community roles in Australia also included Secretary of a local, refugee settlement organisation ‘Sanctuary Northern Rivers’.

​Ian has a Masters in Environmental Law from Macquarie University, an Honours degree in European Law from the University of Warwick and a Graduate Certificate in Divinity from Ridley College.