James has a background in chemistry, biology and oceanography; he has over 30 years of international experience in the energy sector. He has held various senior international Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) posts in the oil and gas industry, with Marathon Oil and Enterprise Oil. 

Since 1992, he has worked as an HSE consultant to the industry, involved in both building an international consulting business and in technical consulting and advisory. 

He has a broad knowledge of the upstream, midstream and downstream oil industry from licence negotiations/acquisitions through exploration, field development, production, processing, transport, refining and marketing with specific expertise in managing HSE and risk within this sector. 

James has extensive experience in HSE Policy and management systems, their formulation, implementation, audit and training. This has included the role of advisor on the development of IOGP's 'Guidelines for the Development and Application of HSE Management Systems'.  He also has broad international experience in:

 

• Strategic and tactical planning and advice

• Policy, management system development and implementation/performance monitoring

• Environmental and social surveys, baseline studies and impact assessments

• Risk assessment and management

• Reviews, audits and due diligence 

• Communication and training programmes 

• Emergency response and oil spill contingency planning and exercises

• Planning and permitting support

• Research, innovative thinking and problem solving

 

He was founder and CEO of the RBA (Rudall Blanchard Associates) Group, an international HSE consultancy from 1992 until it was acquired by RPS Group Plc in 2008. He then spent eight years in various senior roles with RPS both in UK and USA. He is now UK based and working as an independent consultant to the international energy industry together with highly experienced and trusted associates.

 

James is member of Royal Society of Biology (MRSB) and Chartered Biologist (CBiol), a chartered member of Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (CMIOSH), a Technical Specialist with the Institute of Risk Management and a member of Institute of Directors.