James Thorogood

James Thorogood has a diverse work experience spanning various industries. James recently served as VP of Technology and Operations at Makeship, a product crowdfunding platform, where they managed cross-functional teams responsible for the platform. Before that, they were the Director of Product at Makeship, leading the engineering and product teams.

Prior to their role at Makeship, James was the Co-Founder and CEO of Boresha Technologies Limited, a B2B SaaS and fintech provider in East Africa. James managed operational systems and data for agribusinesses that procure high-value products in challenging rural environments.

James also served as the Director of Business Development at LishaBora, a social enterprise focused on increasing profitability for Kenya's smallest dairy farmers. In this role, they led a multidisciplinary team and developed software for optimization of feed formulations, order management, and logistics.

In addition, James has experience in mechanical engineering from their time at CH2M, where they provided engineering consulting services and developed Excel-based calculation tools. James also worked as an Analyst at EY, reviewing contracts for large oil and gas projects and investigating compliance of spending by project contractors and vendors.

Early in their career, James worked as a Business Development Officer at Growth Mosaic, identifying potential clients for a management consulting firm, and as a Researcher, Designer, and Presenter at iGEM Calgary, where they worked on the development of a biosensor for water quality testing.

Overall, James has a strong background in technology, product management, business development, and engineering, with experience across various sectors and regions.

James Thorogood has obtained an MSc in Social Data Science and an MSc in Water Science, Policy, and Management from the University of Oxford. James also holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Calgary. Additionally, they have acquired certifications in Dairy Production and Management, R Programming, and The Data Scientist's Toolbox from Coursera Course Certificates, obtained in November 2016, August 2016, and July 2016 respectively.