Description

Hello, I’m James :)

I partner with mission-driven leaders and organizations to show up with clarity and heart in the public domain.

Based in Berlin, raised in Aotearoa-New Zealand, I've spent 15 years at the intersection of nonprofits, government, advocacy and tech - drawn to spaces where purpose drives the work.

My roots are in community advocacy and public policy, but my capacities and skills reach across domains, including mission-driven companies and government.

I primarily work in the following domains (with plenty of overlap):

Storytelling and strategic communications
Advocacy, campaigns and thought leadership
Policy research, development, and government relations
Thought partnership and space holding for leaders

It often feels like we're living in a moment overflowing with information, but hungry for presence, wisdom, and heart to help navigate these times.

My sweet spot is working with partners to meet this moment with a blend of the big-picture strategy (head), intuitive understanding (heart), and practical, impactful action (hands).

I enjoy being a thought and delivery partner who can augment and plug into your team, hold space and help bring insights through the often messiness of figuring things out, and help move forward your work.

Industry field of expertise

Languages

English
Native or bilingual

Workplace preferences

Can work on-site

Berlin (up to 50km)

Self Employed
Independent Consultant
May 2025 - Today (1 year and 1 month)
Berlin, Germany
Policy research, development, and government relations - crafting policy insights, building strategies, and engaging with government stakeholders
Storytelling and narrative development - designing compelling public narratives and stories that fully own your vibe and mission
Thought leadership and advocacy - shaping public presence, designing campaigns, and building coalitions around the issues that matter
Space holding and counsel — offering empathetic, intuitive support for leaders to ideate, reflect, navigate complexity, and work through challenges in the areas described above.
Codesmith
Director of Mission & Development
TECH
March 2024 - April 2025 (1 year and 1 month)
New York, NY, USA
Codesmith is a US tech school that is building a new generation of tech leaders equipped to wield frontier technologies—like AI and ML—ethically and responsibly to tackle complex societal challenges.

Led a full refresh of Codesmith's public narrative and brand, bridging legacy credibility with a modern story. Placed community, mission, and impact at the center of the brand narrative.
Drove thought leadership initiatives, scaffolding the CEO and leaders to engage in global tech and AI conversations.
Developed thought leadership agenda and strategy that led to new partnerships and high-profile engagements, including invitation and participation in the 2024 Berlin Global Dialogue, 2025 World Economic Forum week in Davos, and the 2025 MIT AI in Action conference in Boston.
Public Sector People
Strategy Advisor, Government Relations
September 2023 - February 2024 (5 months)
Melbourne VIC, Australia
Provided government relations and public policy services to Whitehorse City Council in Melbourne.