David has had a long career in research and academic organisations and has led research teams and Centres in the UK, the Netherlands and Australia.

His career has included being Deputy Chief of the CSIRO Division of Forest Biosciences and Deputy CEO of the Ensis Joint Venture between CSIRO and the Scion CRI in New Zealand. He was Head of the Centre for Timber Research for TNO in the Netherlands and helped set up and establish the BioComposites Centre at Bangor University in the UK back in the early 1990s. Before joining UTS he was Professor of Forestry and Associate Dean of Science at the newly formed University of Cumbria in the UK.

He has led and worked on research and development projects in over 35 countries throughout his career. He has also been a director of the SmartPrint CRC, a trustee of the Gottstein Trust and has chaired and participated in a number of national and international scientific and research committees throughout his career.

As Director of RIO, David oversees the operations of RIO, works closely with internal and external stakeholders and provides advice on research issues within UTS. He has a particular interest in international research collaboration, working with industry and the use and impact of UTS research and innovation.