James Tickell

James has been a Partner of Campbell Tickell since 2004. He has carried out a wide range of assignments throughout the UK and the Ireland, primarily for not-for-profit organisations and government agencies. His assignments have focused on governance, mergers, performance improvement, strategy and most recently organisational culture.

Some more high profile work has involved helping clients through difficult or unexpected events. Assignments include:

• Numerous governance reviews, board appraisal exercises, awaydays, strategic planning exercises and scenario planning
• Writing the Charity Commission’s flagship guidance for Trustees and other key guidance booklets for charities
• Writing the new NCVO Code of Governance for the voluntary sector
• Undertaking two statutory inquiries on behalf of government regulators
• Conducting confidential inquiries into a range of problems and incidents on behalf of various clients
• Assisting and advising on issues connected with the formation of group structures, mergers and partnerships
• Serving as Interim Chief Executive of major care and housing organisation during a period of difficulty
• Recruitment of Chairs, Chief Executives and other senior positions

Previously, James has worked as a Director at the Refugee Council, and then at the Housing Corporation, where he was Registrar a senior post in the department responsible for the regulation of housing associations. Before moving to set up Campbell Tickell, he was Deputy Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, a national campaigns and trade body. He was responsible at various times for a wide range of activities, including:

• The Federation’s Governance Code and work with Board members
• Communications, corporate identity and branding
• Company secretary functions
• A major overhaul and expansion of the Federation’s regional network
• Publications and journals

James trained as an architect. He has served as a Board member of various charities and other organisations, including as a government appointee to the Board of an organisation in special measures. He was a trustee of Public Concern at Work, the whistleblowing charity, and also a non-executive Director of McCann Homes Ltd., a developer and housebuilder. He has published books on the Maya and Inca civilisations, as well as on housing-related subjects.