David is a well-respected member of the Tasmanian business community. He was Executive Director of financial services firm Shadforths Limited for more than 20 years. David became a Director of the Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania in 1989 and served as club President between 1994 and 1997. He was also a Non-Executive Director of several health care organisations, including Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation and Southern Cross Care (Tas), and was a founding Director of the Financial Planning Association of Australia.