James has been leading much of the thinking in government over how to better use data in safe ways to improve social outcomes. He has been providing advice to senior ministers and officials about how to better empower communities to solve some of New Zealand's more intractable challenges in education, child protection, social development.  As a member of the New Zealand Data Futures Forum he championed a principled approach to managing risk and realising value by handing back control of data to New Zealanders.  James is on the Board of Te Punaha Matatini, New Zealand's Centre of Research Excellence in the science of complexity.  He is a Philosopher by Training (and disposition).