President and Chairman

James oversees the Burke Foundation founded in 1989 by his late father, James E. Burke, long-time CEO of Johnson & Johnson and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Honor for his ethical leadership. The Foundation is focused on improving the health and wellbeing of at-risk children in New Jersey through targeted interventions in three issue areas: children’s health, early childhood development, and arts education. His passion for healthy children and safe, thriving communities has guided the Foundation’s strategic development. In his role as President and Chairman of the Foundation, James is honoring his father’s vision and commitment to allow children to reach their fullest potential.

James is the Co-Founder of DisruptiveLA and is an award-winning film and theater producer. He has produced a number of successful movies including “Thirteen Conversations About One Thing” featuring Matthew McConaughey and “Levity” starring Morgan Freeman and Billy Bob Thornton, and theater projects including the multiple-Tony Award winning Broadway revival of “Long Days’ Journey into Night.” James’ transformative experiences in the arts have shaped the Foundation’s focus on giving youth artistic tools to express their identities and feel empowered. A graduate of Middlebury College and the American Film Institute, James lives with his wife and two daughters in Stockholm, Sweden and Princeton, New Jersey.