James is an award-winning architect with extensive global and local experience across education, commercial, workplace, cultural, high-end retail, and residential projects. He believes that design excellence is achievable in all contexts and for every project. Essential to this premise are two elements, a strong team motivated by shared project ownership and establishing trust with clients and user groups. He combines acute design thinking with best practice and advocacy, to deliver exceptional results for clients and the built environment. This approach enables him to lead and manage large, complex socio-political projects, develop ongoing projects from single clients and cultivate a strong network of relationships.

As Brisbane Studio Leader, James is instrumental in driving the studio’s strategic growth. With expertise in strategy development, project and business management, stakeholder engagement, and research-driven design, he is responsible for fostering innovation, enhancing team collaboration, and identifying new business opportunities. His leadership ensures the studio’s continued success and its ability to deliver exceptional design outcomes.

James also maintains a role in academia, through a combination of teaching, research for application in practice, or advisory boards and peer review panels. Since 2022, he has been an active member of the University of Queensland's School of Architecture, Design and Planning’s Industry Advisory Board.