David completed a law degree in 1983 qualifying as a Trading Standards Officer in 1989. He gained an LLM in European Law in 1998. Carrying out the whole range of Trading Standards work he managed the food and animal health teams in Buckinghamshire and continues to actively promote the role Trading Standards can play in the public health arena in his current position with Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards. 

He became a joint Lead Officer for food and nutrition for the Chartered Trading Standards Institute in 1999.  

His CTSI role has resulted in involvement in various advisory groups and bodies. He is Vice Chair of the national Food Standards and Enforcement Focus Group and sits on the Defra Authenticity Steering Group and Government Chemist working group.  

David also contributed to the CTSI Brexit Think Tank policy document about the impact on food standards caused by leaving the EU.