David was raised in Cairns attending Edge Hill Primary School and Trinity Bay State High School before leaving for boarding school at Church of England Grammar School in Brisbane. David undertook Tertiary Education at Queensland Institute of Technology (now Queensland University of Technology – Gardens Point Campus) obtaining a Bachelor of Business – Accountancy.

His entry into the professional workforce was with Ernst & Young Chartered Accountants in Brisbane one of the largest Firms in the world. David’s area was audit and included local, national and international clients. At this Firm he completed his qualifications as a Chartered Accountant. David left this Firm to join what was Hall Chadwick (now Findex) in Cairns as their Audit Manager. At this Firm he obtained his qualification as a Local Government Auditor and Tax Agent. David’s interest in Local Government took him to Mulgrave Shire Council as the Finance Manager and Assistant to the Shire Clerk. Whilst at the Council David undertook Post Graduate Study to become a Town Clerk. Some of his assignments were published as future course material.

David left Mulgrave to commence his own Accountancy Practice at Smithfield in 1988. The Accountancy Practice is focused on small business enterprises and covers all areas including; audit, taxation, accountancy, management and corporate advice. David commenced a financial planning business in conjunction with his practice having obtained the appropriate qualifications as an Authorised Representative. To compliment this David qualified with a Diploma in Financial Services (Finance/Mortgage Broking) and also a Diploma of Financial Planning.

The Firm’s clients are located throughout Australia and overseas.

David holds the following qualifications; Bachelor of Business – Accountancy, Diploma in Financial Services (Finance/Mortgage Broking), Diploma of Financial Planning, Local Government Auditor, Local Government Clerk. Registration as a Tax Agent and Justice of the Peace (Qualified). David is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and Chartered Tax Advisor with the Taxation Institute of Australia.

David has served on various Committees in a variety of roles including:

• Institute of Chartered Accountants Student Council in Queensland,
• Local Government Accountants in Queensland,
• Cairns/Mulgrave Rotary Club,
• Finance Director of Cairns Hockey Association,
• Chairman of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns Audit Committee,
• Member of KickArts Contemporary Arts Board,
• Deputy Chairman and Treasurer of Trinity Anglican School Board,
• Treasurer & Secretary of Far North Queensland Amateur Turf Club
• President of Far North Queensland Amateur Turf Club.

Currently David is the Treasurer of the Cairns Historical Society and the Cairns Museum.