James Boyce - Founder, Grumpy Sailor & Member, NSW Government, 24-Hour Economy Advisory Group

James is the founder and creative visionary behind Grumpy Sailor. His experience spans a varietyof mediums including moving images, written word, in-gallery experiences, large-scale television commercials and advertising campaigns, interactive products and immersive experiences, and feature films sometimes all at once!

In the nascent stages of his career, James honed his skills in various capacities within the film industry, donning hats as diverse as a production runner and a copywriter. It was during these formative years that his passion for immersive technology began to take root and with an innate entrepreneurial spirit, James established his successful creative experience design studio, GrumpySailor.

Under his astute leadership, Grumpy Sailor has emerged as a trailblazer in the realm of immersive experiences, captivating audiences with cutting-edge creations that push the boundaries of creativity and technology. Recent projects include the Bondi Story Room, Alice Springs Parrtjima, aFestival in Light and the FIFA Museum presented by Hyundai during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.

James has an enviable list of commercial and artistic partners, including PunchDrunk, The Sydney Opera House, Arts Centre Melbourne, The Melbourne Museum, ACMI, Google, the Royal Shakespeare Company and many more.

Beyond his entrepreneurial pursuits, James is deeply committed to fostering development and education within the creative industries. He actively engages with initiatives aimed at nurturing talent and promoting innovation, recognising the pivotal role that creativity plays in shapingsociety.

Throughout the years, the Grumpy Sailor’s design work has been recognised with several prestigious awards. Notably, a collaboration with the Melbourne Museum received the Good Design Award, which recognises outstanding design excellence. Additionally, the project titled "The Oracles / PunchDrunk & Google" was honoured with the Future of Storytelling Award byColumbia University. Grumpy is also the recipient of 2 Honor SEGD Global Design Awards in 2022, which recognise global best-in-class experience design. The studio's work has consistently received the MAGNA Award for Best Exhibition almost every year. The studio is proud of its team’sachievements and grateful for the recognition of its peers in the industry.

James's influence extends beyond the confines of the studio; he is an active member and advisor in the 24-hour Economy Advisory Group, the night-time industries association, and Business NSWamong many others. Through his dedicated efforts, James has played a pivotal role in driving significant policy changes that have positively impacted the creative industries, paving the way for growth and innovation.