James is the Senior Director of Portfolio Construction at the University Pension Plan (UPP), a jointly sponsored, defined benefit pension plan serving Ontario’s university sector. Since joining UPP in 2022, he has been responsible for ensuring the development of a resilient investment portfolio aligned with UPP’s long-term investment beliefs, liability structure, and responsible investing approach. 

Prior to UPP, James spent over 15 years with the Total Fund Management team at CPP Investments.  He also served as a committee member for the organization’s defined contribution plan for employees, contributing to its oversight and governance. 

Beyond his professional role, James is deeply committed to community involvement.  As an active member of UPP's employee giving committee, he helps organize initiatives such as the annual United Way campaign and food drives in collaboration with the Daily Bread Food Bank. 

James holds a specialization in actuarial science and statistics from the University of Toronto. He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA), a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder, and a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA).