James leads McKinsey’s worldwide initiatives in sustainable urbanization and economic growth. With experience in more than 30 countries across five continents, he champions ambitious sustainable development and net-zero strategies. James excels in supporting clients with investment attraction, special economic zones, and regional development.
Furthermore, he co-leads our knowledge partnership with C40 Cities—a global network of nearly 100 mayors from leading cities around the world united in action to confront the climate crisis.
James Co-Chairs the UK Government’s Professional and Business Services Council Trade Promotion Working Group. He is also a member of the Advisory Council for the WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities and holds the position of an elected Academician of the Academy of Urbanism.
PUBLISHED WORK
“Public spaces in Latin America and the Caribbean: a guide for their reactivation in the post-pandemic era,” Inter-American Development Bank, March 2022
“Net-zero business models for a Just Transition,” UK Research & Innovation, January 2022
“Creating local green jobs: the United States, Italy and South Africa,” C40 Cities, October 2021
“Coal-free cities: the health and economic case for a clean energy revolution,” C40 Cities, September 2021
“Seizing the urban opportunity: insights from six emerging economies,” Coalition for Urban Transitions, March 2021
“Invest and prosper: a business case for investment in planning,” Royal Town Planning Institute, October 2020
“Chongqing 2035: spatial and economic transformation for a global city,” Vivid Economics, World Bank Group, December 2019
“Natural asset and biodiversity valuation in cities,” Global Platform for Sustainable Cities, World Bank Group, November 2019
“Climate emergency, urban opportunity: how national governments can secure economic prosperity and avert climate catastrophe by transforming cities,” Coalition for Urban Transitions, September 2019
“Melaka: pathway to urban sustainability,” Global Platform for Sustainable Cities, World Bank Group, May 2019
“Exploring urban IoT solutions,” Connected Places Catapult, June 2018
PAST EXPERIENCE
Vivid Economics, a McKinsey Company
Director
Buro Happold
Associate
Arup
Planner
EDUCATION
University of Cambridge, Peterhouse
MPhil, environmental planning and design
University College London
MSc, construction and development economics
University of Liverpool
BA, architecture
