David’s professional background is in finance, where he worked for Lloyds TSB and HSBC after qualifying with the Chartered Institute of Insurers in 1997.
Born in Kent and educated at a comprehensive school in the South Wales valleys then at Durham University, he has been Hillingdon’s Deputy Leader since 2002. He was the youngest councillor in London when elected at 22 and served as a committee chairman and cabinet member covering planning, housing, social services, and education and children’s services.
Chairing the LGA Children’s Board, he has developed a high media profile, appearing regularly on the Today programme and Newsnight. He serves as a magistrate in Brent, and previously as a non-executive director in his local NHS while at European level, he chairs the education employers’ organization for Europe and is a member of the Education Commission of the Committee of the Regions in the EU. Since Summer 2013 he chairs the National Employers Organisation for Schoolteachers (NEOST) and has extensive experience of employment matters having served previously as chairman of the employers’ side of the School Support Staff Negotiating Body and the Joint Negotiating Committee for youth workers.
He works closely with government on matters relating to children and young people including on legislation, and guidance such as Working Together and the role of the lead member and director of children’s services. In politics, as well as being a councillor, he contested two parliamentary elections and served as treasurer of the national Conservative Councillors’ Association and chairman of his local association.
