Jim graduated in 1964 with a B.A.Sc. degree in mining engineering from the University of British Columbia. He gained valuable mine development and operating experience while involved in the start-up phase of three major mines over 14 years with Placer Development Ltd.

Jim has more than 30 years of hands-on experience in mine evaluations, financing development, and marketing and operations in Canada, the United States, South America, and the Philippines.

As President of Princeton Mining Corporation (1987-1997), he was responsible for the acquisition of the Similco open pit copper mine; the evaluation, financing, and development of the Cassiar underground block cave mine; and the acquisition, evaluation, financing, and development of the Huckleberry open pit copper mine in northern BC. The Huckleberry project was completed on schedule at its budgeted cost of $140 million.

Jim is president of Orclann Investments Inc., a private investment company, chairman of compliance for Energy Corporation, former president of Huckleberry Mines Ltd, and a director of numerous public and private companies in mining and property development.

Jim has served as a director of the Mining Association of Canada (1987-1990), the Vancouver Board of Trade (1990), and chairman (1992) and director (1987-Present) of the British Columbia Mining Association. He was also the 2005 recipient of the Edgar A. Scholz Medal for Excellence In Mine Development in British Columbia and the Yukon.