Born and raised in Adelaide, David commenced his teaching career as a classroom music teacher at Robinvale Secondary College in Northwest Victoria in 1991. With a strong interest in technology and a passion for music, he has been able to combine these two loves, utilising these areas to provide unique learning opportunities for country students. His music program was featured in a Telstra commercial in 1999, when Robinvale students were taught violin via video conferencing from Melbourne.
Moving to Red Cliffs Secondary College in 2000, David was invited to join the SoundHouse Music Alliance and established the first regional music and media technology training centre under the SoundHouse banner. He became deputy chair of the SoundHouse Music Alliance and travelled to the US and Singapore demonstrating the Special Access Kit. He left SoundHouse in 2008 due to work commitments at school.
David became Assistant Principal at Red Cliffs Secondary College in 2007 and Principal in 2009. In 2010, Red Cliffs piloted a program called FLO (Flexible Learning Options) for students identified as being at risk of disengaging with education. This program was rolled out to 5 schools across Sunraysia. In 2014, the College, in partnership with Mildura Rural City Council, opened FLO Connect – a reengagement education setting for disengaged youth. David is Principal of both Red Cliffs Secondary College and FLO Connect.
In 2022 David accepted a six-month secondment to the Northwest Victorian Regional Office to oversee the planning and support of emergency management in schools for a quarter of the state.
Wanting to return to his involvement in SoundHouse, David self-nominated and was accepted as a board member of the SoundHouse Music Alliance in May 2022.
David is married to Cheryl who is a primary school teacher at Red Cliffs East Primary School. They have two children – Nicholas (born 1995) who is a forensic chemist working for Viatris Pharmaceuticals in Brisbane, and Jessica (born 1997) who works for the Arts Centre Melbourne as a customer experience officer and tour guide. David is Vice President of the Red Cliffs Club, an honorary member of the Australian Bravery Association and often hosts numerous community events in the Red Cliffs district.
