Head of Periodontics at Melbourne Dental School and previous convener of the postgraduate periodontics program for 15 years, Professor Ivan Darby qualified as a dentist in 1991 from the University of Glasgow, and then worked for 10 years in general practice in the UK. He completed his PhD in 2000 and FRACDS(Perio) in 2006. In part-time specialist periodontal practice for 20 years undertaking periodontics and surgical implant treatment, Prof Darby has published over 100 papers with a recent focus on socket healing, ridge preservation and early implant placement. He is the current section chair of the ITI Australasian section. In addition, Ivan is also the current President of the Australian and New Zealand Academy and editor of the Australian Dental Journal.