James leads strategy, transactions, and operations across Africa Climate Ventures. Prior to founding the studio, James co-founded Dalberg Advisors in New York in 2002, before founding Dalberg’s Africa business in 2007. He served as Dalberg Advisors’ Global Managing Partner from 2010- 2014, and as Dalberg Group’s Executive Director from 2014-2022.

In 2021, James founded the Climate Action Platform for Africa, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to help Africa achieve broad-based economic growth through climate action leadership.t

James is an early investor and board member of Koko Networks, a Non-Executive Director of Old Mutual Limited, and the Board Chair of One Acre Fund. In 2022 James received a Climate Breakthrough Award, and he is also an  Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellow, a WEF Young Global Leader, and a member of YPO. He holds a degree in economics from Harvard University and is a Yale World Fellow.