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James O’Brien is a an Australian broadcaster (and manager) and writer who has spent nearly his entire life behind a microphone. His career began at the age of twelve as a volunteer in community radio in 1978, eventually blossoming into a decades-long tenure with the ABC as a presenter and manager. Throughout his professional journey, he worked across various regional hubs, including Lismore, Bourke, Renmark, and Wagga Wagga, before settling in Sydney in 1995.

A significant shift occurred in mid-2023 when O’Brien became an amputee. Drawing on his extensive media background, in October 2026, he will launch The Limb Shift, a podcast and blogging project dedicated to sharing the complex and raw realities of limb loss and difference across Australia and the Pacific.

Beyond his advocacy, O’Brien is a dedicated chronicler of personal and local history, maintaining a long-running blog since 2002. As a gay man who transitioned from country life to the city, he has also been a vocal advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community, documenting the evolution of queer spaces in both regional New South Wales and Sydney.