OW Spotlight James Nason

Can you tell us a bit more about yourself and what you do? What inspired you?

I’ve worked as a political lobbyist for over 25 years across a wide range of industry sectors with a focus on UK politics. I’ve always been in consultancies with offices in Brussels and sometimes Washington DC and Beijing, so have an appreciation of international politics too.  

A level Politics classes at Wellington certainly inspired me (taught by Mr Lovat and Mr Dyer) to look at lobbying as a possible career. I took a gap year after leaving Wellington in summer 1989 and one of the internships I did during that time was working in the Conservative Research Department at Conservative Central Office (now Conservative Campaign HQ). I met a few lobbyists during the internship and so after studying Politics at Bristol University I dived straight into consultancy. I’ve always tried to soak up as much political experience as possible, so volunteered to work on general, European and local election campaigns, and went to the US to assist in two presidential elections campaigns in Connecticut and in Virginia.  

Since the early 1990s, I’ve also supported my wife – Rowena Colthurst – in running and restoring the Pitchford Estate in Shropshire. It’s a 1,000-acre agricultural Estate with a Grade I listed historic house – Pitchford Hall – at its heart. Old barns have been transformed into holiday cottages and we host a 50-acre solar farm, which helps power thousands of homes with clean energy. Restoring and enhancing nature on the Estate has been an important focus and we’ve tried to run the Estate in a sustainable way at the same time as we’re witnessing the impacts of climate change on this part of South Shropshire. 

 

What’s been a career highlight so far?  

Playing a role, albeit a small one, in supporting companies in the political arena which will help the UK meet its climate and net zero commitments. The UK was first to industrialise – Ironbridge in Shropshire calls itself the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution – and I feel it’s right for the UK to help lead the way on climate change mitigation.  

I’ve worked with wind and solar energy companies and trade associations to bring significant amounts of renewable energy to the UK grid. I’ve also advised companies such as Nissan and BYD in terms of their efforts to decarbonise and electrify road transport in the UK. More recently, I’ve worked with companies that are seeking to decarbonise heating, perhaps one of the most challenging sectors to tackle emissions in terms of British homes, where we’re largely dependent on fossil fuels. 

These companies all have had to interact with policy and regulation made in Westminster and Whitehall by politicians, officials and regulators, and my role has to been to support this process and intermediate between politics and business.  

  

What would you say are essential life skills or traits for young people today? 

Determination, perseverance, resilience and enthusiasm.   Also a recognition that hopefully you’ll have a long career and that gratification and reward might take time but are worth it. 

 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? 

Work hard! And always try and remain optimistic, even after knockbacks.  

 

Do you have a fond memory from your time at Wellington – or a particular teacher who stood out? 

Mr Lovat, one of my excellent Politics teachers (mentioned above) particularly loved US politics. His classroom walls were adorned with US political posters from presidential campaigns. We studied JFK, Nixon and Reagan, but the posters brought these campaigns to life for me and his passion for the subject. I can picture the classroom now and through OW events have been able to thank Mr Lovat face to face for helping me find a career path that has ultimately enriched my life.  

When you are at Wellington, you perhaps underappreciate the beauty of the main College buildings and the campus, but the importance of good architecture and beauty has been a guide for me during the continued restoration of the listed buildings and heritage on the Pitchford Estate, particularly Pitchford Hall. Good architecture and beauty inspires and creates a sense of wellbeing. This perhaps shapes Wellingtonians more than we imagine.  

 Featured in the 2024 – 2025 Yearbook.