James formed the Gresham Partners Group in 1985 and is Chairman of Gresham Partners 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 the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, a Senior Fellow of FINSIA, a Fellow (EngExec) of the Institution of Engineers Australia and a Fellow of Australian Institute of Company Directors. James was previously Managing Director of Rothschild Australia Limited and a Director of Hill Samuel Australia Limited with experience in banking, corporate advice and funds management in Australia and the United Kingdom.
James is Chairman of Coles Group Limited and was a Director of Wesfarmers Limited from 1998 - 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. He retired from that position in March 2009. He was also Chairman of the Darling Harbour Authority between 1989 and 1995.
In 2008 James was made a member of the Order of Australia.