James is an expert in public policy and higher education, an experienced practitioner in business and strategy development, and interested in working with organisations who believe their work makes their places better.
He is the former Head of Sustainability, Policy, and Civic Engagement, at the University of Liverpool where he was responsible for their sustainability strategy, advising on issues across higher education, and leading the University’s civic engagement work. Throughout his career he has worked with a range of clients on business development, strategy, and stakeholder engagement.
Previously, James worked at NUS where he oversaw their governance reform, he has published a book on universities and their communities, and holds a Masters of Public Administration where he specialised in the economic resilience of the public sector after Covid, for which he was awarded a Distinction.
James specialises in developing civic projects through stakeholder engagement, policy development, and place-based analyses. His work has included working with regional authorities on their sustainability and research strategies, engagement with local authorities on their arts and cultural offer, advising higher education bodies on policy issues, and as a writer for a number of publications including Wonkhe where he is their current Associate Editor for Research and Innovation.