Jim is a licensed real estate agent and chartered accountant with wide ranging experience in the property, accounting and finance industries. He holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Diploma of Financial Management, both from the University of New England, and also holds a Certificate IV in Financial Services (Finance/Mortgage Broking). Jim was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2014 for services to the community and surf lifesaving. He has been an executive director of Westlawn Finance Limited since 1994 and has been chairman of directors of Clarence Property Corporation Limited since 2000.