Full Name
James Parkin
Job Title
Founding Partner
Company
Thorium Capital
Speaker Bio
James Parkin joined the Royal Navy as a Warfare Officer in 1997. In the subsequent three decades, he deployed worldwide on operations, including spending time afloat in every ocean on the planet. He was privileged to command at sea in every rank, including the inshore patrol vessel HMS Ranger, the Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose, the Fleet Amphibious Flagship HMS Bulwark, the UK Amphibious Task Group, and the multinational ‘Joint Expeditionary Force’ Maritime Task Group.
In his final appointment in the Royal Navy, as a Rear Admiral, James was “Director Develop” and the 78th Controller of the Navy from 2021 to 2025, responsible for designing and commissioning the Hybrid Fleet of the future, and in which time he founded the Disruptive Capabilities and Technology Office.
He was honoured to have been awarded the CBE in the late Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2020, and was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in HM the King’s New Year’s Honours List 2026.
Following his departure from the Royal Navy, James has founded his own consultancy in the Defence Technology sector, and offers advice and mentoring to UK, European and US companies on meeting strategic challenges in this uncertain time. He is a regular contributor to policy papers from think tanks and other discreet organisations, and has appeared as a defence commentator on national and international news broadcasts, radio shows, and podcasts.
In parallel, James is the founding partner of Thorium Capital, a specialist European investment fund concentrating on providing growth capital to UK and European companies in the defence, national security, and resilience sectors.
An alumnus of the University of Oxford, Kings College London, and London Business School, he is a Younger Brother of Trinity House, an Associate Fellow of the Nautical Institute, and a member of the Advisory Board of Greenwich Hospital. He is also active in the governance of the City of London, being Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Coachmakers, and a Court Assistant of the Worshipful Company of Distillers.
In his final appointment in the Royal Navy, as a Rear Admiral, James was “Director Develop” and the 78th Controller of the Navy from 2021 to 2025, responsible for designing and commissioning the Hybrid Fleet of the future, and in which time he founded the Disruptive Capabilities and Technology Office.
He was honoured to have been awarded the CBE in the late Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2020, and was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in HM the King’s New Year’s Honours List 2026.
Following his departure from the Royal Navy, James has founded his own consultancy in the Defence Technology sector, and offers advice and mentoring to UK, European and US companies on meeting strategic challenges in this uncertain time. He is a regular contributor to policy papers from think tanks and other discreet organisations, and has appeared as a defence commentator on national and international news broadcasts, radio shows, and podcasts.
In parallel, James is the founding partner of Thorium Capital, a specialist European investment fund concentrating on providing growth capital to UK and European companies in the defence, national security, and resilience sectors.
An alumnus of the University of Oxford, Kings College London, and London Business School, he is a Younger Brother of Trinity House, an Associate Fellow of the Nautical Institute, and a member of the Advisory Board of Greenwich Hospital. He is also active in the governance of the City of London, being Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Coachmakers, and a Court Assistant of the Worshipful Company of Distillers.
Speaking At
