While James can write about anything and everything (and has sometimes needed to), he's most at home in the world of business reporting -- and this is why.

His formative years as a writer were spent reporting on the tumult and toil of the oil and gas industry as a specialist business reporter at a time when the bulls were running and oil was flowing in Perth.

Here are a few examples of the work he did way back when.

Waiting for the cowboys to ride into town (13/03/2012)

Remember that wave of US investment which was expected to target Australian shale green fields? Whatever happened to that? James found out in 2012. This story was also featured in prestigious resources journal RESOURCESTOCKS

A tale of two fabricators (02/02/2012)

Having a massive LNG project in your backyard means opportunities for local businesses if the PR is to believed, but does the spin reflect the reality? James interviewed two fabricators from Darwin hoping to win work on the Ichthys LNG project to see if they were jumping for joy over the project.

An Iranian standoff (20/01/2012)

What does a game of middle eastern roulette mean for Australian LNG exporters? James posed the question in 2012 in the light of ongoing tension over Iran's nuclear program and threats to shut down the straight of Hormuz.

Striking the right chord (04/04/2012)

A quick spotlight feature James whipped up on a junior explorer, Strike Energy. Features an interview with Strike's managing director David Wrench.

Whistling in Gladstone (02/08/2011)

What happens when you try and squeeze four LNG projects onto the same patch of dirt in Queensland?. This article involves the input of two key sector analysts, while written with a punchy and entertaining tone.

Battlelines drawn over local content in WA (16/03/2011)

Fear and loathing over local content laws in WA led to 5000-odd angry unionists marching on parliament house in 2011. James was there with notepad, camera and voice recorder in tow to document the clash between unions, politicians and resource companies.