James holds a Master of Engineering Science degree in Coastal and Water Engineering and has over 30 years of experience in coastal hazard assessment, coastal management and coastal engineering.
James currently holds the role of Principal Coastal Engineer at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Water Research Laboratory (WRL). James has served on the NSW Coasts Oceans and Port Engineering Panel (COPEP) of Engineers Australia since 2000, and its National Committee on Coastal and Ocean Engineering (NCCOE) since 2017.
Prior to working at WRL, James worked in the construction industry, including construction and estimating experience for a civil/marine contractor. James has been involved in coastal hazard assessment and coastal management in all states of Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, including more than 30 assessments of coastal hazards (erosion, recession, inundation and climate change) around the coast of Tasmania. He has visited almost all of the inhabited coasts of Tasmania and has been a surfer, surf life saver and open water swimmer for over 40 years.