James Appiah III is the President of the Cambridge Union, where he leads one of the oldest and most prestigious debating societies in the world.
Raised in Stratford, Newham, before moving to Romford, Essex, James reflects on his childhood experiences in Stratford, where despite its challenges, the strong sense of community shaped his future work.
James’ passion for social impact began during secondary school when he became involved with CAFOD, a charity focused on global development issues. This marked the beginning of his interest in international politics, which deepened when he led a session on Palestine at his school.
In sixth form, James’ political engagement intensified as he joined TELCO (now Citizens UK) and became Co-Chair for his borough. He played a pivotal role in discussions around knife crime, engaging with Scotland Yard, local MPs, and the Mayor.
His activism included hosting a march at Stratford Shopping Centre to advocate for safe spaces for victims of knife crime. This experience led to him becoming a Youth Parliament Select Committee Member and later a member of the British Youth Council, where he worked on issues such as knife crime prevention, social media, youth culture, and education.
His involvement also extended to the UK Youth Advisory Forum, where he helped shape policy on serious violence and social media regulation.
James’ focus on social media led him to contribute to debates on policy issues, such as how to prevent the casual display of knives on social media and how to improve regulation of social media platforms. In Year 12, he advised the Cabinet Office on its Serious Violence Strategy and was nominated to join the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, where he spoke with over 40 MPs about topics like gender, mental health, and toxic masculinity, as well as his experiences as a young Black male in the UK.
James’ internships further solidified his interest in politics and policy. He interned at Rothschild in their healthcare sector and gained experience with local MPs, which provided insight into Westminster’s operations and deepened his commitment to policy work, particularly as he navigated the challenges of constituency correspondence.
In his first year at the University of Cambridge, James dedicated to empowering young people through economics, politics, and education. He founded The Elevation Network, a platform that connects youth activists, entrepreneurs, and influencers to inspire young people and provide career guidance.
The network has hosted multiple events, including a panel discussion featuring business professionals from McKinsey & Company. James also co-founded Black Ivy Partners, a student-led investment fund focused on financial literacy, particularly in cryptocurrency and asset classes.
The initiative has gained significant traction, with almost 900 followers and 350 subscribers to its mailing list, and it has created nine internships to help students develop commercial awareness and financial analysis skills.
In addition to his entrepreneurial pursuits, James founded the Tomorrow’s Story podcast in January 2021, where he hosts discussions on current affairs, philosophy, public policy, and social mobility.
With 18 episodes released and nearly 2000 listens, the podcast aims to encourage students from disadvantaged backgrounds to engage in meaningful debates on prominent issues, such as knife crime, the pandemic, and the role of private schools.
James was also the Access Officer at the Cambridge Union. He has ambitions to pursue a career in banking, followed by a potential future in politics as an MP or policy advisor.
Congratulations!!
