Born in South Africa, of British Parents, Jim moved to the UK as a teenager. After attending the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst he served as an Army Pilot in the UK, Germany, Bosnia and in the United Stated on a three year exchange with the US Army. He completed his time in the Army in 1999 following an HR appointment at the Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow.

Since then, Jim has gained a range of business experience, predominantly with links to charity orientated organisations. This includes;

• Head of Fundraising and Marketing at Hutchesons’ Grammar School;
• Senior Sales Executive at Blackbaud (promoting the charity relationship management system “The Raiser’s Edge” to the charity sector);
• Co-founder, with Steve Cram, and then Chief Executive of an international Children’s Charity;
• Head of Business Development at Silver Stream Fundraising and Recruitment (A charity consultancy company);
• Business Development Consultancy for a range of SMEs.

His interest in the charity sector began whilst serving in Bosnia after organising a series of projects to help re-build local schools. In 1999 he was formally recognised by the Army Air Corps as the individual “bringing the greatest credit” to the Corps in the preceding year, for his efforts in Bosnia.

He took over as Chief Executive of both Poppyscotland (The Earl Haig Fund Scotland) and The Officers’ Association Scotland in October 2005. By virtue of these positions, he is a Director of Veterans Scotland, a charitable umbrella organisation for Veterans focused charities. This includes the role of Chairman of the Veterans Scotland Support Pillar, focusing on funding and research support for all Veterans Scotland member organisations.