MOVING BUSINESS FAMILIES FORWARD
About
Ian Macnaughton MBA, PhD, FEA, SEP, has been a teacher and practitioner of trauma resolution, mind-body and family systems psychotherapy for 50 years and is a Bodynamic Analyst and trainer. He has worked with Somatic Experiencing since the early 70’s and is Levine Legacy faculty with the Ergos Institute of Somatic Education. His practice includes a high percentage of executives, medical practitioners and therapists and others in the helping professions both for psychotherapy and supervision. He maintains an ongoing training group for clinical practitioners, as well as delivering public workshops for helping professionals.
About Ian
BRIDGING FAMILY, BUSINESS, AND CHANGE
I’m Ian Macnaughton, Ph.D., a family business advisor based in Vancouver, BC. For more than 45 years, I’ve worked with business families, founders, advisors, and leaders navigating succession, governance, conflict, and leadership transition.
With over 45 years in the field as an entrepreneur, family therapist and organizational consultant, I have facilitated powerful family and organizational change and seen family members and advisors come together to create a common future that lasts for generations.
Based in Vancouver, BC, I work with business families across Canada and internationally, both in person and virtually.
I Know the Stakes Because I’ve Been There
My commitment to this work is personal. I took over a family-owned business from my mother and experienced firsthand how complex a transition can become when family, leadership, ownership, and identity overlap.
That experience continues to shape how I work with business families today. My role is to help families avoid common pitfalls, make difficult conversations more productive, and build a path forward that protects both relationships and the business.
.jpg)
Experience that matters
I am one of the most seasoned, qualified and trusted business family coaches in Canada:
-
45+ years as a family systems consultant, counsellor and coach
-
35+ years as a strategic planning, change management and organizational consultant
-
Former owner and CEO of a second-generation family enterprise and a number of small to medium size businesses
-
International keynote speaker on family dynamics and interpersonal issues in succession planning
-
Awarded the Richard Beckhard Practice Award for contributions in the field of Family Business Advising
-
Awarded for Distinguished Contributions to the Profession of Counselling and the Association from BCACC
Certifications
-
Certified Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA) by the Institute of Family Enterprise Advisors
-
Certificate in Family Wealth Advising and Family Firm Advising
-
Certificate in Family Business Advising from STEP (Society for Tax and Estate Planning)
-
CAFE Family Business Facilitator
-
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Degrees
-
Master’s in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University
-
PhD in Human Sciences from Saybrook Institute
Current and past affiliations
-
Member, Professional Advisory Committee, Sauder Organisational Coaching Program
-
Instructor and Clinical Supervisor, Pacific Coast Family Institute
-
Instructor, UBC, BCIT, Langara and SFU
-
Associate Faculty, City University (Vancouver)
-
Faculty, Ergos Institute of Somatic Education
-
Faculty of Sauder Educational Coaching Program
