David joined the Forest Research Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service (THDAS) in April 2022, based at Alice Holt. He is currently a Pathology Researcher responding to TreeAlert enquiries, processing disease samples, monitoring tree health at Forestry Commission arboreta, and maintaining the THDAS culture collection.

Prior to joining FR, David worked for international development donors providing phytosanitary training for some National Plant Protection Organisations (NPPO) in Central Asia, South Asia, and South-East Asia. He has a background in commercial forestry propagation research, working in South Africa, New Zealand, and Malaysia. He has also been a plant health inspector in New Zealand, Japan, and the United Kingdom, inspecting imported plant commodities for regulated pests and diseases.