Dr James Popple is Official Secretary (CEO) to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. He is also a member of the ACT Remuneration Tribunal.

James was previously Official Secretary (CEO) to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. He was also the inaugural Freedom of Information Commissioner, and a Senior Member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Before that, James worked for 12 years in the Australian Attorney-General's Department. Before joining AGD, he was a judge's associate, then Deputy Registrar of the High Court of Australia.

James has degrees in law and arts, and is admitted as a barrister and a solicitor. He is also a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law, and an Honorary Professor of the Australian National University (in the College of Law and the College of Engineering and Computer Science) where he conducted his doctoral research in artificial intelligence and law.