James Brooks Ayres Robertson IV is a writer, strategist and communicator whose work has helped shape the mission and global reach of the Grace Children’s Foundation since its founding.

Brooks grew up in Washington, D.C., where he attended St. Albans School before receiving a scholarship to study writing at Oxford University during his senior year. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Brown University, where his thesis examined the implications of Maoist collectivization and modernization strategies for developing societies.

His early career spanned public service, journalism and corporate leadership. Brooks served as a Congressional assistant on Capitol Hill before becoming an on-air news reporter for a CBS television affiliate. At the New York headquarters of St. Regis Paper Company he managed Treasury Financial Services, administering more than $100 million in long-term debt and developing a centralized personnel relocation program prior to the company’s acquisition by Champion International.

Following a transformative visit to China, Brooks co-founded the Grace Children’s Foundation in 1997 alongside his wife, Nancy Robertson, helping shape the mission, voice and global partnerships that continue to guide the organization today.

Living and working between New York City and Beijing for many years, Brooks wrote a monthly column for Women of China magazine from 2012–2018 exploring cultural exchange and the evolving relationship between China and the United States. During this time he also taught in Beijing and is recognized as Professor Emeritus at China Women’s University.

Through years of witnessing both the courage of children in need and the fragmentation of global care systems, Brooks understands that compassion must be matched with coordination. His work with the Children’s Resource Exchange reflects that conviction—helping advance a platform that may serve as a cornerstone of a more connected global pediatric health strategy.