James Ellis-Smith is a seasoned intelligence professional with over two decades of experience in the military, national intelligence community, and commercial roles. With operational deployments in Afghanistan, Timor Leste, and Iraq, James has fulfilled leadership and strategic planning roles in a range of high-stakes environments. James has been a key figure in intelligence reform within the Australian Defence Force, most notably within Joint Operations Command and the Army. James is currently a consultant specialising in intelligence planning, commercial intelligence, and counter-foreign interference.
Alongside consultancy work, James is a PhD research candidate with the Australian National University. James’s area of focus is Intelligence Studies. His research project – Cooperation, Competition and Domination: Military Intelligence as a Social Practice – explores the practical ways intelligence officers work with commanders and operations staff in complex, high stakes environments.