With a combined 15 years of experience on the frontlines of diplomacy and conflict, David's professional career has taken him to all corners of the globe. Specialising in remote leadership, isolation, resilience and leadership through adversity, David's story is a unique example of adventure and challenges in the harshest environments and circumstances.

David's first furore onto the international stage was as a young Platoon Commander in the Solomon Islands in 2007, here, as part of the Regional Assistance Mission Solomon Islands (RAMSI) he worked to maintain peace and order in the island nation. It was this first leadership experience that shaped David's ethos and mindset for the years ahead and where he learnt valuable lessons about the need for empathetic leadership and adapting to experiences of the moment. Upon return, David began working with Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was soon overseas on his first Diplomatic posting to the Australian High Commission, Islamabad, at the height of the international coalition’s efforts to bring stability and peace to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

It was here that David saw a different side of conflict and humanity as the security and political climate of the region changed daily and where certainty was rarely part of daily life. Following his time in Pakistan, David took a sabbatical from diplomacy and worked as a freelance photographer based in Istanbul, Turkey, as he followed the stories of refugees escaping the growing conflict in Syria to the ancient history of the Mediterranean.

As the conflict grew in Syria and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) threatened regional security, David was part of Australia’s contribution to Operational Enduring Freedom and the international effort to defeat ISIS. Here, David worked in a dynamic and hostile environment and learnt the value of empowering remote leaders and teams in unpredictable circumstances and under constant change. Then, seeking a ch...