James is a Principal Advisor at PAA Advisory | Conseils based in Ottawa, where he leads the firm’s technology and telecommunications practice. He is a public affairs expert with almost 20 years of experience in public policy, regulatory affairs, and stakeholder engagement in both the public and private sectors.

Before joining PAA, James was the head of public policy for one of Canada’s largest online retailers, managing a team responsible for working with all three levels of government on issues essential to Canada’s digital economy. Prior to that, he oversaw government regulations and regulatory policy at a telecommunications company delivering high-speed internet to over a million rural Canadians.

James has a deep understanding of all levels of government and how they function, having spent twelve years on Parliament Hill serving as a Chief of Staff to three Cabinet Ministers in four federal departments. He brings a wealth of experience advising both executives and policymakers on the regulation of key sectors of Canada’s economy, including mergers and acquisitions and the changing landscape of foreign investment in Canada.

He was twice named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful and Influential People in Government and Politics by the Hill Times, and has appeared as a national spokesperson on television, radio, and print media. James serves on the Board of Directors of Autism Speaks Canada. He lives in Ottawa with his wife Andrea and his daughter, Clare.