Originating from the Palawa nation, James’s family (Riley) comes from the Cape Barren Island. Flinders Island and mainland Tasmania. James came to Mount Isa in 2013 , to work with Queensland Health as a senior member of the Mental Health and ATODS teams. He joined the board in 2019, bringing a wealth of experience in the prevention and reduction of alcohol and other substance abuse in metropolitan, rural and remote Indigenous communities. James spent a year as the Service Manager at the Normanton Recovery Centre and serves on boards and committees of numerous Indigenous advocacy groups.