James Anderson joined PAA in 2016. With more than 30 years of experience in government, public affairs and political media, he advises clients on government relations and strategic communications.

His experience as a political advisor, has given him specific expertise and insight into international trade, geo-political affairs, and health sector issues.

A graduate of Carleton University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, James has been entrenched in Ottawa’s political, media and public policy arenas for over three decades. He has provided strategic counsel and policy analysis to prime ministers, premiers, cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, and business, NGO and municipal leaders.  Throughout the years, he has also been actively involved, in variety of roles, in countless political campaigns.

After graduation, James spent four years with a leading public affairs firm, advising private sector clients on trade, procurement, transportation, broadcasting and other challenging files. He then spent a decade in strategic policy roles in the federal and Ontario bureaucracies before serving in senior policy and communications positions in ministers’ offices during the Chretien and Martin years. James has managed or advised governments in a broad range of areas, including health, fisheries, international trade, economic development, foreign affairs, constitutional reform and Canada’s social welfare system. He has been involved in political media for over a decade, first as a co-founder of iPolitics and subsequently, in a continuing role, as a partner at National Newswatch, a Canadian website providing political news, analysis and opinion.

James has been extensively involved in his community, having served as president of his community association executive, led local fundraising initiatives, managed municipal campaigns, coached little league baseball and volunteered at local hockey rinks and charities.