About James Ellsmoor
I am the Founder and Director of Island Innovation, which I started after seeing the opportunity to connect rural and island locations around the world working on similar development issues. Island Innovation began with a newsletter and a series of virtual events, and has evolved into a community of over 127,000 members.
In addition to founding Island Innovation I am also the co-founder of Solar Head of State (SHOS), which works with governments to push action on renewable energy. The NGO has focused on small island developing states (SIDS) with solar installations on the Office of the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Government House in Saint Lucia and the Presidential Palace of the Maldives. SHOS is now working with the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and the Pacific Island Development Forum to install solar on the official residences across these organizations’ combined 24 member states.
I grew up on a farm in Shropshire, England, and after working in the Caribbean, United States and Colombia I have settled in Lisbon, Portugal. My Master’s Degree is in “Island Studies” from the University of the Highlands and Islands.
Surprising fact: I hitchhiked through the Arctic in the middle of winter.
Island Innovation Team
Our culture is remote, our roots, global.
Our Team
Meet the people who make it all possible
Our team is a global community itself. We gather the best professionals worldwide and work effectively across time zones delivering projects in 4 different languages: English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
Island Innovation Careers
Join our team to support inspiring leaders and organizations that are working towards a better future.
Where we are in the world
We are a diverse team with a global impact
Our team is a global community itself. We gather the best professionals worldwide and work effectively across time zones delivering projects in 4 different languages: English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
Giving visibility to projects worldwide
Our flagship event, the Virtual Island Summit, is one of the biggest events for sustainable development. Every year, it brings together over 10,000 stakeholders from around the world for a week-long virtual event covering every timezone.
