James is the Association's Deputy Chairman for Political and Campaigning, responsible for co-ordinating the local Conservatives' election campaigns. James is an experienced campaigner, having served worked as a Conservative Party Campaign Manager, a Parish and District Councillor and as a member of the former MP, Tim Loughton's staff.
In his working life, James is the Deputy Chief Executive of a national construction trade association where he oversees the day to day running of the organisation as well as its strategy. He serves on the UK Govt's Construction Leadership Council and on committees of the Construction Industry Training Board.
James was born in Shoreham and grew up in Lancing and Sompting, attending Boundstone Community College. As a young person, he worked in Lancing, Shoreham and Southwick libraries. He bought his first home, a studio flat in Roberta Road, in Lancing and served as Parish and District councillor in the village, including becoming Lancing Parish Council's youngest ever chairman, a role he held for two years. James' family have a long history in Lancing with his father's family once owning Butcher's Butchers which is now Mick McGuiness in Crabtree Lane and his mother's family owning a nursery in Roberts Road, which has since been developed into houses.
James has a young family, is married to a Doctor and now lives in Burgess Hill, West Sussex.