James describes himself as 'an historian of the future' with a close interest in key trends and strategic challenges facing current and future business up to Horizon 2020 and beyond. He is a regular choice as a keynote speaker and moderator at high-level conferences around the world. He has published a number of books and special reports on the world of tomorrow.
James was the first British staff member of the US-headquartered futurology ‘think tank’ the Hudson Institute, taking a senior role at the Institute’s European division based in Paris. He also has more than twenty-five years experience as an award-winning TV broadcaster, presenting The Money Programme for BBC TV for three years before moving to Newsnight and Panorama and then to ITV. He was subsequently Editor and studio presenter at Financial Times Television and Sky News for seven years, heading up their financial and business coverage.
James has a Masters in law and history from Cambridge and a PhD from the London School of Economics. In 2007 he was elected Fellow of the World Innovation Foundation, founded by Nobel Laureate Glenn Theodore Seaborg. He is a Member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and a Director of The Talent Foundation.
As a futurist James focuses on such issues as: scenarios for the 2020s; the emerging new balance of world economic power; the impact on business strategy of new technologies and the wireless, connected world; Digital Behaviour; new business ‘eco-systems’ -- the shape, style and psychological characteristics of tomorrow’s company; work and workplace in the future digital world; impact of the global demographic revolution; generational shift and tomorrow’s people; building the post-carbon economy and the business challenge of sustainability; the future of business leadership.
With his strong broadcasting background James also acts as moderator at major conferences and awards ceremonies around the world. Recent moderating engagements include the British-American Business Council Forum in San Francisco, The New Energy Economy in London, The World Trade Summit in Hamburg, the World PR Congress 2012 in Dubai and the Technoport Climate Change Summit 2012 in Trondheim, Norway.
