James Silson

Experience

• 

  UK Ministry of Defence

  Sept 2008 - Jun 2009

  Clerk
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  British Army

  Jan 2010 - Dec 2018

  As the second in Command of Task Group, 77X, I was responsible to the Commanding Officer for the training, administration and equipping of a busy unit of 60+ officers and soldiers deployed in multiple locations around the world on deployments lasting anywhere between 2 days and 6 months. As well as redesigning and streamlining the training pipeline to focus on operational outputs I also deputised for the Commanding Officer when he was required elsewhere, advised the Brigade on training opportunities and assisted in the development and delivery of planning cycles and operations. Throughout this period I remained at 48 hours notice to deploy worldwide as an individual to offer subject matter expertise on information operations, media and civil-military co-ordination, and also deployed to Kenya to deliver a crisis planning workshop for the East Africa Standby Force. Show less Directing, producing and co-ordinating all media content and activity for the British Forces in the South Atlantic Islands. Working as the sole media officer I was responsible for liaison to local and international new agencies as well as reporting back to the Defence Department of Communications in the UK, including being the tactical media lead for the UK's contribution to efforts to locate the missing Argentine submarine, the ARA San Juan. Footage I shot during the search was used repeatedly on Sky News, and my press releases were carried by all the major British newspapers. I was also responsible for managing the British military's social media presence in the Falklands and through careful management of relevant content tripled the followership of the Facebook page as well as working with the Met Office to produce content explaining the reasons for flight disruptions caused by weather and thereby answering a significant local grievance. Show less As the senior deployable Captain in a new unit, I was responsible for the design and delivery of effect across the spectrum of information activities; including information operations, media and civil-military co-operation. Developing skill sets in media production, liaison, creative consultancy and targetting, whilst working either as an individual assigned to small deployed task forces, leading teams to deliver training or as a consultant member of teams operating at the highest levels of defence. This position included deployments to Australia, Iraq, Niqeria and the USA and frequent collaboration with the special forces and other government departments of a number of nations. Show less Assisting with the UK government's ability to support developing nations through the provision of appropriate military expertise. After completing the UN Staff Officer's Course in Sweden I completed a deployment to Kenya involving the conduct of several assessments of schools and a wildlife orphanage as potential future projects, and the design and delivery of a project to provide a rural school with a trim trail and a football pitch that met international standards. I also became responsible for editing and producing media outflow for British Forces training in Kenya (BATUK) after a colleague was taken ill. Show less Junior military officer responsible for the leadership, management and administration of a troop of 30+ soldiers who were usually deployed to a variety of locations simultaneously. Responsible for advice on all aerial intelligence platforms to the Commander of Britain's very high readiness Air Assault Task Force. Towards the end of this assignment I had the operational ownership of all the airborne intelligence assets assigned to Task Force Helmand and was responsible for designing and implementing the means to control them centrally. I also led the delivery of ISTAR training to the Danish element in Afghanistan. Show less

  • Executive Officer/Second in Command (2IC)

    May 2018 - Dec 2018

  • Media And Communications Officer (SO3 J9 Media BFSAI)

    Sept 2017 - Apr 2018

  • Information Operations Officer (SO3 Civil Affairs)

    Sept 2015 - Sept 2017

  • Civil Affairs Officer (SO3 Operator)

    May 2015 - Aug 2015

  • Integration Specialist (LEAPP Troop Commander)

    May 2014 - Apr 2015

  • ISTAR Officer

    May 2011 - Apr 2014

  • Trainee (Young Officer)

    Jan 2011 - Apr 2011

  • Officer Cadet

    Jan 2010 - Dec 2010
• 

  Royal Artillery

  Dec 2014 - Dec 2023

  Biathlon Instructor & Media Officer

  After 3 seasons competing for my first two military units I qualified as a ski instructor and have since served as an instructor for the Royal Artillery at its annnual training camp in Norway. I have served as the course officer on 3 occasions and also hold a role as the Media Officer on the RA Nordic Committee.

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  The Wild Swimming Brothers

  Aug 2015 - now

  Expedition Consultant and Cameraman

  Responsible for advising on and ensuring practicalities for the Wild Swimming Brothers' expeditions and overseeing implementation of safety measures and risk management, as well as assisting in planning new adventures. Also responsible for suggesting and delivering novel film/photography angles to amplify the broadcast impact of expeditions. Imagery I have produced for the brothers has featured on Sky, ITV and BBC news, a number of outdoor journals and magazines and in various Norwegian newspapers. Show less

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  Africa Media

  Jun 2018 - Jun 2018

  Wildlife Filming Internship

  A month long internship on Africa Media's exceptional Wildlife Filmmaking programme, developing all aspects of my filmmaking and gaining industry experience and understanding of the realities of working in wildlife filming. Through this process I was afforded the opportunity to meet and learn from Ryan Johnson, Fiona Ayerst and Andy Casagrande, all experts in their fields, particularly with a focus towards filming and photographing underwater and understanding predation. Thoroughly recommended to anyone else with an interest in this field. Show less

• 

  SnowSkool

  Jan 2019 - Mar 2019

  Ski Instructor

  Achieved a BASI Level 1 Alpine Ski Instructor qualification and began studying towards a BASI Level 2 award in the Three Valleys.

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  Utila Dive Centre

  Apr 2019 - May 2019

  Divemaster Intern

  Completed training and then undertook work as a PADI Divemaster, assisting in all aspects of this role, as well as qualifying as PADI Underwater Digital Photography Instructor and passing the PADI Caribbean Dolphin Awareness and PADI Caribbean Lionfish Containment Diver certifications. I also completed the International Yacht Training Small Powerboat course, earning an additional boating licence and logging a great deal of sea hours helming professional dive boats.

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  Africa Media

  Jun 2019 - Jul 2019

  Completed a third internship with Africa Media, during which I focused on the skills and techniques required for producing high quality video in the underwater environment, as well as developing abilities in both macro and wide angel underwater photography.Following this internship I was awarded third place in the novice category of the Durban Undersea Club Photo Shootout, an excellent result for my first ever entry into a photographic competition. I completed a second month long internship with Africa Media, during which I focused on developing the skills and techniques I had been taught previously. I used this opportunity to experiment with a 'blue chip' style of production in my filming and also benefited from being more comfortable with the production process and time management on a shoot, enabling me to spend a great deal of time assisting my fellow interns with camera work, particularly stabilised gimbal shots and drone imagery.

  • Underwater photography and videography internship

    Jul 2019 - Jul 2019

  • Wildlife Filming Internship

    Jun 2019 - Jun 2019
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  Oak Island Films

  Nov 2019 - Jun 2020

  Researcher

  Began with work experience focused on logging, archive search and transcription on a series in post-production to concept development on a new series of a presenter led wildlife programme. Working directly to and with the series producer I was initially responsible for refining the plausibility of shooting the different species being considered, and then led on researching facts, locations and potential scientific contributors. I supported small parts of the treatment and story development and then assisted the PM in researching, planning and writing in-country movement and medevac plans, as well as drafting elements of the production risk assessment. Show less

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  British Army

  Aug 2021 - Jul 2024

  Led the planning and implementation of strategic communications for Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. Worked closely with other agencies in Baghdad (including the NATO Mission Iraq, UNAMI and UN agencies), international broadcasters and other government agencies to deliver releasable information and influence opinions about activities in the region. Footage I shot was used in Dutch news and US magazines. Deployable staff officer in civil-military co-ordination as part of an international team in a specialised HQ branch.

  • Deputy Director Public Affairs

    Jan 2024 - Jul 2024

  • CIMIC Officer (G9 CMI SO2 Ops)

    Aug 2021 - Dec 2023