James Holmes founded International Communities Organisation (ICO) in 2016, driven by his recognition of the detrimental effects of protracted conflicts on people’s lives and aspirations.
ICO is dedicated to promoting peace and reconciliation through innovative approaches. It combines discreet behind-the-scenes dialogue facilitation with the ability to finance peace agreements, ensuring that economic inequities fuelling conflicts are addressed. Since its inception, ICO has gained ECOSOC accreditation and achieved significant milestones in regions such as Kosovo, Israel-Palestine, Cameroon, and Cyprus. In these areas, ICO collaborates directly with governments, civil societies, and conflict parties, supported by an impressive advisory board that propels the organisation forward.
Mr Holmes consistently leverages his commercial success to support his philanthropic initiatives – he serves as the CEO of Valens Pay, a fintech company registered in British Columbia, Canada, and shortly to be listed on the US stock exchange. Valens Pay offers a comprehensive range of standard and advanced financial services and products. Under Mr Holmes’ leadership, Valens Pay has experienced significant growth, doubling in size over the past six months and establishing itself as a major long-term player in the fintech industry.
In addition to his role at Valens Pay, Mr Holmes holds interests in various other ventures, including a copper business in Arizona. Through his diverse ventures and philanthropic work, Mr Holmes continues to make a substantial impact on both the financial and humanitarian landscapes.
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Building peace from the ground up: ICO’s model for sustainable change
International Communities Organisation’s (ICO) peacebuilding approach shows that sustainable peace is possible when initiatives are grounded in community involvement, inclusivity and economic opportunity.