Jim was born in Nakuru, Kenya, and his family moved to what was then  Rhodesia in 1969 to the Glendale farming area. He joined the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management in 1977. Jim was based at the Gonerezhou and Nyanga National Parks and finally in the Chewore Safari Area as Warden in charge. While with National Parks Jim qualified as a Professional Guide in 1988.

After leaving Parks in 1989, Jim joined Rukomechi Safari Camp as the Resident Professional Guide. For the next three years Jim was involved at Rukomechi and with Leon Varley Safaris, guiding into Chizarira, Victoria Falls and Kazuma National Park. From there Jim then went onto join Natureways with Garth Thompson and John Stevens Safaris as a Freelance Guide. This kept Jim occupied until married life came calling Jim in 1991 and moved down with his family to the Save Valley Conservancy.

At the beginning of 2000 Jim went back into Freelance Guiding, during which time he has worked with the following Camps and Safari operators: The Hide, Mwinilunga Safaris in Mana Pools, Goliath Safaris with Stretch Ferreira, Imvelo Safaris at Nehimba in Hwange National Park and The Amalinda Collection at Ivory Lodge.

Jim has a deep love for the bush and all it involves. He regards every day in the bush as a new page in a book and you just have to learn to read it. Jim boasts an extensive knowledge of Central and East African Fauna and Flora. He has an unparalleled passion for the big cats, especially Leopard. His other specialties are birding and studying animal behavior, he takes great pleasure in sharing these experiences and knowledge with clients. Jim makes the bush come alive for all those who accompany him in the bush. A keen and talented amateur photographer, Jim has a profound appreciation of the difficulty in getting that perfect shot so takes real pleasure in seeing his clients being given the opportunity to get those good photos whilst on safaris.