David is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and has had a varied career in international higher education and university leadership. He has been a Liveryman since 1999 and has led the Company’s apprenticeship scheme, the development of its 2017 strategy and the appointment process for a new Clerk. He is a governor of Rokeby School.
He is Secretary General of the Magna Charta Observatory based at the University of Bologna. This is a global network of over 900 universities which is concerned with the fundamental values of autonomy and academic freedom and universities’ responsibility to society which have enabled universities to prosper and have greater impact. He led the development of the ‘Living Values’ project which universities use to help them define and live by their values.
Previously, as Director of International Projects at the UK’s Leadership Foundation for Higher Education, David instigated and delivered leadership and development projects with over 30 different countries, some at Governmental level and some concerning post-conflict situations. He continues with this work for various education ministries and the Catholic church.
David was the founding Registrar and Acting Chief Executive of the British University in Dubai where he structured, built and then led the University following its legal creation by the Ruler of Dubai as a not-for-profit provider of Higher Education to UK standards. The University is now the largest provider of postgraduate students in the Emirates.
Prior to going to Dubai David was Secretary to the University of Huddersfield and Registrar and Secretary to the University of Hull. He is Chairman of Gulf Education Conferences and served as Chairman of ACCA’s Qualification Board and on the International Advisory Committee of the British Council.
He is married with two sons and lives in Cottingham, East Yorkshire.