James formed the Gresham Partners Group in 1985 and is Chairman of Gresham Partners Limited.
James was previously the Chairman of Coles Group Limited from 2018 to 2025 and was a Director of Wesfarmers Limited from 1998 to 2018. In 2001, James was appointed non-executive Deputy Chairman and in 2002 Chairman of Rabobank Australia Limited, responsible for the Bank's operations in Australia and New Zealand, holding the position until 2009. He was also Chairman of the Darling Harbour Authority between 1989 and 1995. Earlier, James was Managing Director of Rothschild Australia Limited and a Director of Hill Samuel Australia Limited.
James holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from the University of Sydney and a Master of Business Administration from the University of New South Wales. He is a Fellow of Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment, Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a Fellow (EngExec) of Institution of Engineers Australia.
In 2008 James was made a Member of the Order of Australia.