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I. M. McHardy is a leading figure in the study of active galactic nuclei (AGN) and the physics of black hole accretion. Their research focuses on understanding the structure and dynamics of accretion flows around supermassive black holes, primarily through the technique of reverberation mapping. McHardy’s major contribution lies in pioneering long-term, multi-wavelength monitoring campaigns to measure the time delays (lags) between continuum and emission-line variations, enabling direct measurement of accretion disc sizes and radial temperature profiles. Their landmark 2025 paper on NGC 7469, with 9 citations, provides one of the most detailed echo maps of a black hole accretion flow, confirming the predicted $\tau \propto \lambda^{4/3}$ scaling relation and offering unprecedented insight into the inner regions of AGN. This work has significantly advanced our ability to test theoretical models of accretion physics and black hole growth. McHardy’s meticulous observational studies continue to shape our understanding of how matter spirals into black holes, making their research essential reading for students and researchers in high-energy astrophysics.