Dr James Cowley C.Ed; B.A; M.Ed; PhD (Business); QPMR; CPM; FAMI; MRSA
Strategist, Innovator, Trends analyst, High level Facilitator, Market & Social researcher, Business Owner/Developer, Writer, Keynote Speaker, Media spokesperson james.cowley@balanceandconnect.com.au
Six streams of experience: (detail available by email if required)

Business Builder: Built very profitable companies from scratch. 3 now over 25 years old (i.e. sustainable). Totally “been there/done that” - not just theory. As one senior GM put it: “just looking at what he has achieved in his career made me feel exhausted!”

Innovation: Successful Innovation throughout career.

Strategic mind: Consulted at the highest levels of business and government here and overseas on commercial and social marketing, strategy and implementation.

Consumer research and future trends: 3 decades commercial hands on research, training of researchers and advice on implementing research findings. Massive range and size of projects.

Communication: Substantial range of Keynote speeches, training approaches media (TV and radio). Writing: 37 A4 pages of research report titles, books, articles.

Behavioural change: Career which has concentrated on understanding how to make things happen (at all levels) and then ...making it happen! Personally proved that the poverty trap in society can be overcome.

What I do currently:

• Highly strategic or complex projects in my current specialism or marketing issues
• Complex or very important consumer face to face research.

• Expert in interpreting consumer and social needs and how that will impact the future of an organisation or business. Expert on strategic qualitative research. Analyses trends that will impact sustainability of businesses. Pulls together disparate fields/knowledge/insights. Assists Executive decision makers or buyers of research to know what and how they should be gaining the essential knowledge for decisions.

• In spare time-Supervisor of Executives (9 to date) doing Doctorates externally (DBA’s) and Doctoral examiner (PhD’s and DBA’s) (12 to date)

• Occasionally I will do a keynote speech but I now limit the number to a maximum of 4 per year and only do custom built ones for the target audience (i.e. I am not on the speaker’s circuit)

Current specialisms:

• The commercial impact (and opportunities) of the post 55 segment as they age.
• Understanding the post 55 transition by individuals (and the subsequent transitions through to 90)
• Improving understanding and connection to consumers (wide range of areas including engagement, regions and cities, how businesses disconnect staff and customers)
• Improving Connection and decision making through face to face research
• Optimising the regional/city relationships

Immediate past specialisms:
Majority of areas of marketing; 18 Future trends impacting sustainability of companies; Using properly conducted qualitative research to gain strategic insight; work life balance; ageing demographics; flexible work; A wide range of consumer goods and services areas; wide range of government services areas; alignment of the marketing process from plans to delivery, most areas of marketing/business development.