A qualified Urban Planner by profession, James has spent many years working with the community in various roles - within local government, the social enterprise sector and with a housing & community association, working as part of the team and wider community to transform the organisation. Since 2018, James has worked for Birmingham City Council. He is currently Senior Development Planning Officer on the East Birmingham Inclusive Growth Strategy - which is designed to transform an area with a population of over 230,000 people, equal to a city the size of Derby. He works extensively with the community and partner organisations of all sizes, to positively build-on the excellent work already taking place in the area and promote East Birmingham more widely. The USE-IT Transfer Network project links very closely with this work - and with his role as Communications Lead for USE-IT, James is helping to ensure that the excellent work and exciting initiatives in all four cities taking part, are being promoted.