James Isbell

Co-founder and Managing Partner

With Second Sphere Partners, James is realising his vision of creating a true investment, growth and advisory partnership where all parties involved win through a focus on what he calls “doing the right things, right.”

James has over 25 years of experience driving growth, transformation and commercialisation across a range of industries including financial services, travel, transport, retail and property, from start-ups to global blue-chip companies. He has a strong technology and digital platform background and understands how to build and execute commercial partnerships based on mutual trust and benefit.

Prior to founding Second Sphere Partners with Chris Flavell, James gained a wealth of global exposure to diverse business models and technology innovations, time in Silicon Valley with venture capital and private equity advisors to IBM, and partnering via Microsoft with many start-ups.

As part of his time at IBM, James was based on Wall Street, servicing the Americas in 2008. James did not cause the GFC.

In 2019 James established Hungry Joe Productions – a digital, commercial and corporate advisory firm – leading deals spanning capital raises, trade sales, commercial expansion and digital acceleration for a range of organisations. Hungry Joe Productions merged with AraCapital in 2022 to form Second Sphere Partners.

The last two decades have created an ideal space for James to make a positive impact with Second Sphere Partners. James marries the zest and drive of fast-growing, scalable companies with the sustainable long-term view of industry leaders and James’ own view that founders, investors and advisory partners should be working in each other’s best interests.

James has a BSc in Information Systems, a Grad Dip in Maritime Management and has completed Executive Development programs at Harvard, INSEAD, University of Hong Kong and Boston University. Starting his professional career as a ten-year Naval Officer, successfully navigating away from reefs and towards bars, James gravitated back to water (and occasionally bars) by settling in North Bondi.

As an engaged member of his community, James patrols at North Bondi SLSC, and is a full member of Bondi Icebergs – the winter drinking club that swims.