Neil James is the co-founder and Executive Director of Plain English Foundation, Australia’s leading plain language consultancy. A researcher, trainer, editor, and author, he has spent his career helping some of Australia’s largest organisations communicate more clearly with their audiences.
He served as President of PLAIN and chaired the International Plain Language Working Group, which helped lay the groundwork for the ISO plain language standard. He is the author of Writing at Work, a widely used guide to professional communication, and has been a conference speaker, media commentator, and expert witness on plain language matters.
Neil received the Christine Mowat Award at the 2019 Oslo conference in recognition of his sustained contribution to plain language as a researcher, practitioner, advocate, and organisational leader.
His work with Plain English Foundation transformed communication culture across Australian government, banking, and other sectors — demonstrating the measurable impact that plain language can have at scale.
