Economist Sallie James joins FIRE Board of Directors

Sallie James is an economist, former scholar, and director of development at the Cato Institute, longtime FIRE friend and donor — and now, a welcome new addition to FIRE’s Board of Directors.

Sallie brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience in nonprofit management, policy analysis, and volunteer work, along with a deep appreciation for the principles of free expression that will help guide FIRE for years to come.

Before joining Cato in 2006, Sallie was an executive officer in the Office of Trade Negotiations in the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She also served as a senior policy adviser in the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, joining a team formed by the Australian government to respond to World Trade Organization disputes. Sallie has also held numerous research and teaching positions, and has also consulted for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Sallie’s articles and opinions have been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle, Orange County Register, The Wall Street Journal, The Hill and other American newspapers along with international publications like The Australian and The Economist. Her peer-reviewed articles appear in the Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics and the European Review of Agricultural Economics. Sallie has appeared on BBC World, CNBC, MSNBC, CNN, Fox News Channel, Bloomberg TV, NPR, and other TV and radio outlets.

Sallie received her bachelor’s and master’s in economics from the University of Adelaide, and her Ph.D. in agricultural economics from the University of Western Australia. She is a member of the American Australian Association, the American Economic Association, and the Union League of Philadelphia.

Since retiring from her position at Cato in 2024, Sallie now devotes her time to investing in early-stage companies, advising non-profit groups, and volunteering in her local community. She and her husband support various non-profits working to promote freedom, civil society, and opportunity in education — making her a perfect fit for FIRE’s Board of Directors, and furthering our mission of safeguarding free speech for all on American soil.

“A free society depends not just on a legal right to free speech, but a culture and institutions that value dissent, open inquiry, and personal expression,” she says. “That’s why I’m proud and grateful to support FIRE’s crucial work defending and protecting people’s rights under the law, and fostering a culture that values open expression.”