Sir James Alexander Forrest was born on 10 March, 1905 and was educated in law at the Melbourne University. His professional career has been in the law as a partner in a Melbourne firm of solicitors and in business. He holds positions on the Boards of a number of companies including, for example, Australian Consolidated Industries, Alcoa and the Western Mining Corporation. In addition, he has served finance and banking through his membership of the Board of the National Bank of Australasia, the Chase NBA Group Ltd., and the Australian Mutual Provident Society. Sir James was a member of the Council of Monash University and his contributions in Council and Committee meetings and personally were important features in the early formative years of the University. He is a member of the Committee of the Royal Children's Hospital Research Foundation Melbourne. Sir James has served on the Finance Committee of the Academy for 10 years. He has provided valuable advice to the Academy on such matters as investment policies and opportunities, on the preparation and presentation of estimates and of the ways and means which may be open for acquiring funds. If the Academy is to fulfil its expected role in Science and increasingly in the community generally, then adequate finance must be assured. Effective representation of cases to Government for continued support and to other bodies including industrial organisations for special needs requires skill and advocacy. Sir James, through his membership of the Finance Committee has already demonstrated his interest in the utilization of his special skills in the service of the Academy. His direct participation as a Fellow in the activities of the Academy can only broaden his understanding of the involvement of the Academy in the community and provide a background for his continued service to the signal benefit of the Academy.