James Thomson grew up in Western Australia's South West and Eastern Goldfields, where he enjoyed camping in the bush, going to the arcade and playing team sports. He struggled to concentrate in class, passing high school by the skin of his teeth. He served in the Police Force before owning a company that taught workers how to manage emergencies like oil and chemical spills, floods, cyclones and other disasters. He eventually 'learned how to learn' and completed two Master's Degrees. He has practised martial arts for over thirty years, earning two black belts, one of which is in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He also enjoys watching movies and playing Street Fighter II with his teenage son, the only video game he has ever managed to beat him at.
