James Nicholas Tooley, born in Southampton, England in July 1959, is a distinguished professor of educational entrepreneurship and policy at the University of Buckingham, where he became Vice-Chancellor in October 2020. Tooley's educational background includes a PhD from the Institute of Education, University of London, an MSc from the University of Sussex, and a first-class BSc in Logic and Mathematics from the same institution. His career began as a mathematics teacher in Zimbabwe before transitioning to research and academic roles across several international institutions. Notably, he has been recognized for his groundbreaking work in low-cost private education, particularly in developing countries. Tooley's research has earned him numerous awards, including the Sir Antony Fisher Memorial Prize and the Templeton Prize for Free Market Solutions to Poverty. He continues to influence education through his roles with various educational companies and think tanks globally.