James Firebrace graduated from Cambridge University with an MA in Social and Political Science, later gaining an MSc with distinction at the London Business School. His early career focused on the development challenges of Sahelian Africa and the Middle East, to which he has reverted in a rather different capacity in recent years. Campaigning has been a thread throughout, whether on baby food marketing to illiterate mothers in the poorest countries to strengthening UK broadcasting regulations to deliver quality programmes on environment and development. In 1990 he was appointed Director General of Consumers International – at a time of massive political change as the Soviet Union collapsed and African economies started taking off, but consumers left exposed to unscrupulous practices. He set up his current consultancy in 1998. Water scarcity has been one focus, planning a way forward for Taiz the world’s most water-stressed city. Securing and creating livelihoods is another, most recently with a campaigning focus as the war in Yemen threatens major economic collapse.
1) What is your current position? I run a consultancy aimed at finding solutions to key challenges facing the developing world. We keep it small and hire in the best people for any particular assignment – a genuine feel for the country and people is a must on top of the specific expertise.2) What are your proudest achievements? Making a real difference on those occasions when I’ve been in the right place at the right time. Opening up the aid supply route to northern Ethiopia outside government control during the mid 1980s famine – this included persuading a group of the world’s best known former Presidents and Prime Ministers to lend their weight to the concept of safe passage. Took a bit of nerve!3) What inspires you? Margaret Mead, a remarkable woman well ahead of her time, said “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world”. Throw in a bit of grit and persistence and it’s a powerful formula.
4) What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?
There are times when you realise you can go no further, that the odds are stacked too high against you or as in a couple of occasions it just became too dangerous. Time then to digest the lessons, move on, and if necessary reinvent yourself.
5) Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?
Amartya Sen, the Indian Nobel Prize winner in Economics, is one. He brought revolutionary insights to poverty and famine – how severe poverty can co-exist in a land of plenty, and famine when there is no lack of food, but either not affordable or accessible to those in need.
6) What is the best aspect about your current role?
I love the variability of what I do and the ability to choose what issues to take on - none is ever the same. Cultures are, thank goodness, massively diverse and people always interesting and extraordinarily resilient.
7) And the worst?
Long hours away from the family, missing those special occasions.
8) What are your long term goals?
To keep making a difference where I can, identifying and supporting game changing opportunities and innovations that create new businesses and new livelihoods.
9) If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?
I find the current debate on migration so frustrating. So little recognition given to the massive economic benefits to our country from successive waves of immigration. Then lumping foreign students, who give critical support to our universities and language schools, into the same targets as long term migrants. Such a shot in the foot!
10) If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?
Mahatma Gandhi, whose abiding principles of non-violent resistance combined with religious tolerance so badly need reviving. Two million people walked at his funeral and for good reason.
