Ian Hay-Campbell was born on 19 May 1945, the son of Thomas Neil Hay-Campbell and Anthea Joan Hay-Campbell (née Carey). He was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School, New Zealand and Victoria University of Wellington (BA Hons History). In 1970, he married Margaret Lorraine (née Hoadley), having four sons.

After a spell as a radio journalist at NZBC, Wellington, 1969–72, Hay-Campbell moved to Britain and worked as a radio producer, then subsequently an Editor, at the BBC World Service, 1972–84. He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1984, and his diplomatic career then included: First Secretary, FCO, 1984–87; Deputy Head of Mission, Kinshasa [Democratic Republic of the Congo, earlier Zaire],1987–90; FCO, 1990–94; Head of Press and Public Affairs Section, Moscow [Russia], 1994–97; Deputy High Commissioner, Harare [Zimbabwe], 1998–2001; Deputy Head of Mission, Oslo [Norway], 2001–05.