Moving to New Zealand’s capital in the turbulent political era of the early 80’s as a management consultant, it would be his skill with pencil and paper that would initially bring Jim to the publics attention.

Delivering his satirical take with his published cartoons, Jim drew some of the countries most enduring political figures saw him become an award winning political cartoonist with his work lodged in the National Libraries Cartoon Archive.

Off the printed page however Jim has been a life time lover of the natural world. Actively working in Wellington and National Conservation for the last 30 years with Community conservation groups, Government Departments and Local Authorities he is the author of the successful “Natural Wellington” plan, the founder of Zealandia (formerly Karori Sanctuary) and the architect of the fenced ecosanctuary. He has been the prime mover of urban and community conservation, the most dynamic growth sectors in NZ conservation over the last 20 years.

In 2001 he received a Queens Service Medal (QSM) for services to conservation.