David is responsible for overseeing establishment of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission.

Prior to his current role, David was Executive Director of Jobs and Skills Australia and prior to that, First Assistant Secretary, National Skills Commission. David has held executive roles at the Department of Education Skills and Employment, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, Australian Treasury, and the Department of Finance and Administration. David also worked as an economist at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. David has worked in a range of policy areas including labour market policy, vocational education and training policy, industry policy, fiscal policy and public debt management.

His governance experience covers several Australian Government entity audit committee roles and as Treasurer of not-for-profit community organisations in the ACT.

David holds a Master of Economics from the Australian National University and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

David was awarded a Public Service Medal in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours for his work in establishing Jobs and Skills Australia and its predecessor the National Skills Commission.