James finished his schooling at John McGlashan College in 2006, since then he has gained valuable experience on Lochaber Station, Hunter Valley Station and completed a season on the Hawea Mustering Run.

In 2012 James came to Stoneburn Station and worked under the manager Ken Bain for two seasons before jet-setting to The Northern Territory in Australia to work on a 4.5 million acre 70,000 head cattle station.

In February 2014, James returned home and took over the management of Stoneburn, since then development has progressed and stock numbers have been significantly increased.