Jim Duncan
Jim is committed to strengthening communities through arts and believes in the power of storytelling to inspire, unite, connect and transform communities. He has been a SAL subscriber since 1996. He serves as a board member and an advisor to profit and not for profit boards, having served on over twenty—currently, Classical KING, Path with Art, and Key to Change among others. He served sixteen years as an ArtsFund Trustee, including two as Board Chair and is currently serving on the ArtsFund Foundation board.
As a child, Jim’s favorite book was The Velveteen Rabbit because, he says, “learning about love, hardships, grief as well as holding on our authentic selves had a lasting impression.” A favorite book he’s read more recently is How to Be Perfect by Michael Schur for its deep dive into everyday ethical puzzles and conundrums. Memorable SAL events for Jim include Malcolm Gladwell, whose storytelling and research he admires, and Annie Leibovitz, whose reflections on creative process and portraiture left a lasting impression.
After a 38‑year consulting career, Jim retired as CEO and Board Chair Emeritus of Sparling (now Stantec), a leader in electrical, technology, acoustics, and lighting consulting. He holds an MBA from Seattle University, a BS from Clemson University, and completed Harvard’s Executive Leadership Program. When Jim isn’t doing SAL Board things, he is avid adventure traveler sailing in the Caribbean, hiking in Borneo, and bicycling through the French countryside. Jim and his wife, Gaylee, live in Seattle.