James is a conservation scientist whose work sits at the intersection of economic development and wildlife conservation. He has worked extensively on the illegal wildlife trade, notably in West Africa and Southern Asia, and is particularly interested in understanding how agricultural innovation can help improve rural livelihoods while also protecting nature. He completed his doctorate at Imperial College, London and has held visiting researcher positions with the University of Queensland and University of Ghana. His work has been published in Conservation Biology and PlosOne and featured in BBC Wildlife magazine and Intrepid Explorer.