James is Director of ASPI’s Cyber, Technology and Security (CTS) program.

In this role, James leads ASPI’s largest team to develop original, rigorous and data-driven research and policy recommendations to address emerging security challenges. CTS spans cyber and critical infrastructure security, critical and emerging technologies, national resilience and social cohesion, and hybrid threats. This includes disinformation, economic coercion and other ‘grey zone’ activities. CTS works with partners from governments, academia and civil society, and industry spanning the Indo-Pacific and globally.

James is a senior national security practitioner with nearly two decades experience in foreign policy and intelligence. He has provided influential advice to government at the highest levels, driving policy responses to evolving global threats and those impacting Australia’s place in the world. This included serving as Intelligence Liaison Officer to Australia’s Foreign Minister and representing Australia abroad through diplomatic postings to Indonesia and Malaysia, where he worked closely with international partners to further stability and resilience against shared threats. James has also led teams central to Australia’s intelligence policy and coordination effort; international partnerships; protective security; enterprise capability; governance and oversight; and enterprise risk.

His strategic insights and ability to build connections have been instrumental in shaping policies and responses to transnational and emerging security threats. James is well-regarded for bridging intelligence collection and analysis with policy implementation. His vision is grounded in collaboration across public and private sectors along with integration of advanced technologies to bolster national preparedness and response capabilities.

James holds a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours in International Relations from Monash University. He specialised in terrorism studies.