James graduated from Heriot Watt University with a degree in Engineering/Management. Since 1996 he has worked at the region’s inland waters, firstly with South West Water Ltd’s Leisure Services Department and, from 2000, with South West Lakes Trust. He has held management roles within the Outdoor Activity and hospitality sectors of the business. He is an accredited Project Manager and ensured the delivery of multi-million pound Sport England, GOSW, RDA and Heritage Lottery funded projects on time and on budget. As Head of Resource Planning James has overall responsibility for marketing, conservation and development within the Trust. In 2009, he was commissioned by SWRDA to work up a full, multi-site, bid proposal in partnership with the Environment Agency and the Forestry Commission under the Sustainable Rural Tourism funding stream, successfully obtaining £2.6m for the Trust’s activities. He is a school governor, a member of the West Devon District Scout Executive and a funding panel member for the East Cornwall Local Action Group; at South West lakes Trust he has responsibility for project development and conservation trust wide along with operational activities in Cornwall including the Wheal Martyn, china clay museum. He and his family enjoy discovering the secrets of Dartmoor on walks together.