James has spent over 15 years working at the intersection of business, sustainability, innovation and entrepreneurship. As part of CISL’s senior leadership team he works across business policy and finance initiatives building the capacity of leaders, and leading institutions, to drive systemic change for global sustainability. In 2022 he launched The Canopy – CISL’s incubator, accelerator and workspace in central Cambridge, to activate an international community of impact-led startups, entrepreneurs, investors and innovators. Prior to CISL he established a Business Engagement and Innovation team at Friends of the Earth to develop new ideas, partnerships and alliances across environmental campaigns. James previously founded a digital media startup, and held various senior commercial partnership development roles at Vodafone UK. In 2011 he worked for 6 months setting up sustainable agriculture projects in high altitude communities in the Peruvian Andes. James holds a BSc in Rural Estate Management and a master’s in leadership for Sustainable Development.
James Cole
Chief Innovation Officer, CISL
