Iven was born and raised in New Zealand to Chinese immigrants. He moved down to Dunedin to complete a Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the University of Otago. He is fluent in English and Teochew and is conversational in Mandarin.
Iven believes in the importance of proper diagnosis and treatment planning with the patient as a foundation for dentistry that will be functional for long periods of time. His goal is to ensure that not only do his patients walk out with better teeth than they had at the start of their appointment, but are also armed with the tools and knowledge to better care for them. He maintains an interest in many areas of dentistry, most notably oral surgery and restorative dentistry, which he stokes through continuous attendance at conferences and seminars with other professionals in the field.
In his spare time, Iven loves to stay active, playing basketball and going to the gym. He is also a fan of cars and computer technology, keeping up with the most recent developments and breakthroughs online.