David is a Lecturer at the Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security Studies at Charles Sturt University, the Deputy Director Training with Response and Recovery Aotearoa New Zealand and an educator with the Australian Centre for Investigation and Incident Management Solutions.

David authored the Australian Emergency Planning, Incident Management and Tsunami Planning Handbooks for the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience.

David is the National President and Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Emergency Services, a Fellow of the Business Continuity Institute, a Fellow of the Emergency Management Academy New York, a Life Member of the NSW State Emergency Service and a member of the International Association of Emergency Managers.

David holds a Masters in Emergency Management, and Degrees in Social Science and Education. David has completed an Emergency Management Fellowship with the Emergency Management Academy in New York and the Leadership in Crises Program with the Harvard Kennedy Business School.

David was awarded the Emergency Services Medal in 2023 for his contribution to Emergency Management in Australia.