Mike James

Mike is an experienced leader and people manager and has worked across many different countries and cultures. He has an in-depth understanding of international quality management systems, audit techniques and standards. Mike worked for the Lloyds Register Group as Managing Director of Lloyds Register Quality Assurance (LRQA), its global management systems business. He was also a member of the Group executive directors team responsible for the overall direction and management of the billion-pound international engineering services and conformity assessment group. During his tenure, the LRQA business grew from an initial UK based operation to become a multimillion-pound global business.

Mike has also served as Chairman of the global trade body, the Independent International Organisation for Certification (IIOC) liaising with regulators, government representatives and competitors to advise on and formulate industry wide policy.

Mike is delighted to be part of the Leadership Academy and the successful creation of a new organisation within the Welsh education system. He would like to utilise his experience of international organisational leadership to help the Leadership Academy transition to the next level of organisational maturity and to be regarded as a thought leader in educational leadership both in Wales and internationally.

Mike was born and raised in Cardiff and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Mike splits his time between homes in Cardiff and Pembrokeshire. He enjoys walking, cycling and has a large organic allotment. Since joining the Leadership Academy board Mike has returned to Cardiff University after more than 30 years and has completed an MSc in Education Policy.