James Pennington

James Pennington is an accomplished professional with a proven track record in facilitating impactful public-private collaborations within the realms of circular economy, environment, and technology.

He possesses a high level of proficiency in Mandarin and Spanish, coupled with a deep understanding of Chinese politics, economy, and society, enabling him to forge strong partnerships with the Chinese government and business sector.

James holds a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in International Relations with Distinction from the University of Cambridge, an Executive Masters in Global Leadership from the World Economic Forum, and a BA Joint Hons in Chinese and International Relations with First Class honors and Distinction in Spoken Chinese from the University of Leeds.

His educational journey also includes studying the Chinese Language at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

With a wealth of experience, James has held key roles in various prestigious organizations, including his current position as Associate Director leading Circular Economy initiatives at Deloitte.

He has previously served in roles such as Manager of the Circular Economy Initiative and China Partnerships, Lead for Circular Economy & China Partnerships as a Global Leadership Fellow, and Project Specialist focusing on Circular Economy within the Environment Team at the World Economic Forum.

Furthermore, James has contributed as a Research Analyst for Global Agenda Councils at the World Economic Forum and in client relations and conference organization at Chatham House.