James McMahon AM DSC DSM is a 24-year army veteran (including time as a commander of Australia’s elite SAS Regiment) and a business executive, management consultant and company director.
He is a highly decorated military veteran. During deployments with the SAS to East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) and Distinguished Service Cross (DSC). Between 2007 and 2013, Mr McMahon worked in the private sector, initially with Azure Capital as chief operating officer and from early 2012 with an Azure-backed consulting startup Chauvel Group. He was commissioner for the Department of Corrective Services in WA from 2013 to April 2017.
Mr McMahon was the chief operating officer of Kerry Stokes’ private company Australian Capital Equity from mid 2017 to June 2023. Board memberships included the West Coast Eagles Football Club (2007–2015) where he also served as deputy chair, the SAS Resources Trust Board since 2008, the Australian War Memorial Board since October 2015, St John of God Health Care Board (since July 2017), and the Investment Advisory Group Committee for RSL WA. He is also an ambassador for ‘The Fathering Project’ since June 2016.
He holds a Masters in Management and a Masters in Business Administration.
Mr McMahon is a winner of the Community Award category of the 2019 Western Australian Of The Year Awards. In 2022, he was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to veterans and their families, and to the community.