James has wide ranging business management and international business development experience in the Defence, Law Enforcement and Security Sectors and has a substantial network Government, Military and Commercial connections. His first career of 23 years as a British Army Royal Artillery Officer included instructing at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and at The Army Staff College while gaining significant counter terrorist experience on operations. He held significant MOD staff appointments and commanded an armoured artillery regiment before leaving for a second career in business in 1997. He was Managing Director of Optimus Management Information Systems (1997-2000) and subsequently VP International business for AIS Inc (2001-2005). He has since become an advisor on Defence and Security to several governments and corporate clients with a special focus on the Middle East.