David is responsible for the BBC World Service Trust's work in Africa. David joined the World Service Trust in 2008 as Country Director for Sudan, taking over as Regional Director for Africa later the same year.
David has had a diverse career, from elementary particle physicist to development communicator. He studied physics at university but was drawn to broadcasting. While an undergraduate he contributed to a weekly university radio programme. That involvement led him help found Canada's first student-owned university radio station in 1976.
After university, David worked extensively as a writer, producer, and presenter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in radio and television. Among other projects, he wrote and presented Canada's national weekly science broadcast.
In the 1990s David joined NGO Broadcasting for International Understanding where he made several television documentaries, including an hour-long programme about African scientists. He then started a multi-media production company, making films about international development issues around the world.
In 2001 David moved to Nigeria to head the communications team at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and three years later joined the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center in Mexico City as Head of Corporate Communications.
David has a Masters Degree in Physics, and has taught journalism at Universities and Colleges in Canada.