During my tenure as Chair of the Board, I have led Involve to a nomination for The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2018 and grew not-for-profit revenues from £200k to over £850k within five years. Additionally, I was honoured as a finalist in the Institute of Directors' Director of the Year awards in 2019.As Chair, I guide and support fellow Board members and the broader organisation in strengthening the thriving voluntary and community sectors across Bracknell Forest and Wokingham Borough. I provide strategic direction, ensuring compliance with all legal and regulatory responsibilities, while driving initiatives that expand our community impact and sustain our long-term growth.

During my tenure as Vice Chair, I led succession and skills analysis of the Board, ensuring that 90% of required capabilities were in place within six months.As Vice Chair and now Chair of the Board, I ensure that the organisation complies with its governing document, organisation law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations. I also ensure that the organisation pursues its objectives as defined in its governing document and act as an active member of the board of trustees, giving firm strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.

I have delivered independent ad-hoc consulting services to over 20 companies globally, delivering expertise in areas such as Transformation & Change, Transportation, Board Management, Charitable Organisations, and Defence. Through these engagements, I have directly influenced the successful implementation of over 30 transformation projects, resulting in increased operational efficiency, cost savings, and revenue growth for my clients.

• Leading strategic vision, product development, and fundraising efforts to launch AI-driven tech startup aimed at revolutionising consumer experiences.• Secured key partnerships and established an initial product roadmap aligned with market needs and consumer demand.

Navigated regional market complexities, achieving a 38% year-on-year revenue increase across SW Europe and Latin America.Surpassed revenue targets through a performance-driven approach, resulting in a 75% win-rate increase and substantial revenue growth.Aligned strategic initiatives with executive priorities, contributing to a 68% increase in deal size and consistently exceeding quarterly targets.Developed and executed go-to-market strategies across 20 countries in SW Europe and LATAM, successfully driving revenue growth and market penetration.Led initiatives to boost the adoption and implementation of SaaS solutions, enhancing operational efficiency and scalability across the region.

During my tenure at DXC, I spearheaded the Economic Value Management (EVM) capability for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). This involved:• Leading the development and implementation of five sub-services within the EVM framework: Application Accounting, Business Case Creation, Application Migration Budgeting, Program Budget Tracking, and Benefits Realisation Management.• Providing IT leaders with data-driven support to manage costs and realise benefits from IT modernisation initiatives, resulting in enhanced decision-making processes.• Establishing strategic partnerships with industry-leading SaaS platforms to enhance our service offering's value proposition and decrease delivery times by up to 50%.• Redefining service offerings and sales collateral for EVM pre-sales activities globally, resulting in a remarkable increase in the sales pipeline by over 300%.• Contributing as a member of the founding team responsible for establishing an internal Diversity and Inclusion council and associated strategy development, aligning with the company's commitment to enhancing diversity and inclusion across the organisation.• Utilising advanced analytics techniques to derive actionable insights, inform decision-making, and drive business performance improvements.• Managing project portfolio management initiatives and enterprise software implementations to streamline operations and improve business process efficiency.These accomplishments highlight my leadership in driving strategic initiatives, enhancing service offerings, and fostering diversity and inclusion within the organisation.

As a Consulting Practice partner at DXC, I led geographically dispersed teams in driving transformation initiatives for major global organisations. Highlights include:Leading consulting engagements focused on Business Change and Benefits Realisation.Influencing stakeholders to deliver a £120m data transformation programme.Delivering programmes in IoT, ERP, Smart Factory 4.0, and SAP, yielding over £1.2bn in savings.Providing intervention strategies such as customer value assessment, achieving a £340m Op-Ex reduction.Managing all aspects of Change Management within complex Global Business Transformations, ensuring adoption and utilisation goals are met.Leading change, adoption, and business readiness activities for an enterprise-wide MS Office 365 implementation, impacting over 7500 employees and 1000+ subcontractors.Delivering executive coaching to C-suite level executives, enabling effective support for change activities and strategic outcomes.Facilitating clients in organisational design and HR matters, including TUPE, redundancy, and relocation issues.Providing strategic guidance and support in M&A activities, contributing to successful integration.Spearheading budgeting initiatives and implementing IT strategy frameworks to streamline operations and drive cost savings.Managing large-scale programs, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and leveraging enterprise software solutions.Implementing project management best practices to optimise business processes and drive operational excellence.Managing diverse project portfolios and collaborating with vendors for successful project delivery and vendor management.

As a consultant with Hewlett Packard's consultancy business, I provided leadership in the delivery of Change Management for major global Transformation programmes within high-value, complex, key client accounts. I led and advised in the creation and delivery of £150k-£200m+ digital change and transformation programmes.In my role as a business consultant, I focused on Strategy Development & Implementation, Organisation Design, Culture/Behavioural Change (including training), and Commitment & Engagement.I was accountable for cultivating and nurturing influential relationships with C-suite and Global Heads across Management, Finance, HR, and IT functions to facilitate the successful delivery of major transformation programmes.Drawing on my military background, I developed a reputation for swiftly diagnosing issues, offering clear and decisive direction to drive solutions, and assembling multi-skilled teams.

As a Senior Manager within the Commercial Enterprise Markets sector, I delivered a range of engagements within a variety of sectors including Logistics, Oil & Gas, and Travel.As a Global Aviation Board Member within the Business, I provided global business development and leadership in support of on-going opportunities and bids within the Aviation sector. Having attained business savings in excess of £1bn through the delivery of a £250m Global digital transformation project the Client EMEA CIO stated: ‘Few individuals make an early and obvious impact when joining such a demanding, highly pressurised and to some, intimidating environment. James’ background has clearly equipped him well to deal with ‘stressful’ situations and it was obvious within 5 minutes of meeting him that he was of immediate value.’

Part of Business Optimisation and Agility team specialising in operational improvement. • Provided consultancy across a variety of work streams including Aviation, Logistics, Oil & Gas, and Business Intelligence. • Delivered strategic and innovative vision in support of contract bid worth £100 million. • Consulted on a key, new-to-market proposition across Logica UK business.• Led sales teams and fostered strategic alliances within the aviation sector, driving revenue growth and market penetration. • Implemented solution selling strategies to address client needs effectively and establish long-term partnerships.

Undertook an interim role, leading the multi-service support for Heathrow’s Olympic Baggage Project. Provided advice to executive-level stakeholders on risks and steps for mitigation within this highly complex and media-sensitive £20 million project. Established fundamentals of project management, including Risk, Cost, and Programme monitoring, resulting in improved project value and cost benefit.

During my tenure at Wilson James Limited as Principal Consultant & General Manager at the UK Atomic Weapons Establishment:• Successfully led the MENSA Project Logistics Operation and Delivery, resulting in a contract renewal for an additional 2 years.• Provided strategic planning, operations management, and team leadership, contributing to the project's success and contract extension.• Demonstrated highly visible leadership within a secure and complex environment, ensuring service excellence and operational efficiency.• Managed and guided cross-functional teams covering Facilities, Deliveries, Waste, Catering, Logistics, Bussing, Reception, and Administration.• Utilized management consulting skills to identify and implement business process improvements.• Applied risk management techniques to mitigate potential project challenges and ensure smooth operations.• Effectively communicated with stakeholders, including executive management and client representatives, to negotiate contract terms and address project requirements.

I was responsible for the provision of general management, consultative advice, planning and service delivery for construction supply chain, material handling and security across all contractors within Heathrow’s Terminal 5c project. Day to day advice, guidance and management services were provided to the clients' executive team and contractors, enabling efficient control of all operations and efficient service delivery within secure and complex environment.

Upon leaving the Army, I assumed the role of a key supply chain specialist bridging BAA and 1st tier suppliers. Utilising negotiation skills and relationship-building, I established and upheld the business reputation as a pivotal service provider within the airport environment.Recognising the need for a distinct leadership approach outside the military realm, I swiftly adapted by drawing upon my training and experience in leading diverse teams. Despite encountering challenges such as limited information and resources, I embraced a situational leadership style, swiftly earning the trust and support of my colleagues.Furthermore, I spearheaded the innovation and implementation of a groundbreaking Department for Transport compliant screening unit, delivering a notable 30% annual cost saving. Additionally, I played a key role in facilitating business expansion by identifying training needs, securing board-level funding for courses, and advising staff on professional certifications, thereby enhancing the capabilities of the workforce.

In my last Army position, I managed three departments, managed assets and stock exceeding £125 million, covering land, sea, and air freight forwarding. Supporting operational assets both domestically and in deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, I took on the task of proposing alterations to the existing support levels as a subject matter expert (SME). My solution gained adoption at an international level across the Army.

As the Training and Operations Officer, I oversaw the creation and delivery of a training and development programme for over 1000 trainees. Following the ‘Blake Report’, I spearheaded the development of a best practice approach for human resource management, delivering comprehensive written briefs to the Managing Director on the progress of trainees, frequently briefing them personally on matters of welfare, discipline, and training requirements. Additionally, I coordinated and liaised with various government and private agencies.

Head of 2 departments with responsibility for 82 personnel. Delivered Leadership, Logistical advise, HR, Budget management, Change Management, Fleet and Warehouse Management and process optimisation, Notably, I served as the primary logistical advisor to the direct supply chain within five units during operations in Iraq.

Temporary Contract Role.Progressed from Junior Assistant to Departmental Manager with 3 Months in role through successful demonstration of skills and service delivery.Led internal postal service for South West BT Area. Managed departments based in Exeter, Plymouth and Taunton.

Infantry reservist with 4 BN Devonshire and Dorset Regiment (Devon & Dorsets) later Rifle Volunteers.Demonstrated adaptability and resilience in challenging environments during field training and operational deployments.Collaborated closely with unit members to execute mission objectives effectively and ensure the safety and security of personnel.Received commendations for exemplary performance and dedication to duty during training evaluations and assessments.Contributed to unit cohesion and morale through active participation in team-building activities and social events.Supported community engagement initiatives and public relations activities to foster positive relationships between the military and civilian populations.Adhered to strict discipline and regulations to uphold the standards of the British Army and maintain operational effectiveness.