In over 25 years in New Zealand’s tourism industry David has enjoyed a variety of corporate, public sector, and governance roles.
David's career experience is founded in the hotel and tourism sector having spent a decade with Millennium Hotels. Managing the Copthorne Hotel at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands, David led the redevelopment of the hotel and the significant expansion of its conference and banqueting capacity and business.
In 2008 David took on the leadership of Positively Wellington Tourism as the city capitalized on being named #4 city in the world by Lonely Planet, hosting Rugby World Cup and his team’s establishment of Visa Wellington On A Plate and Beervana.
Since then, David has continued to lead in Wellington, having been General Manager of Venues Wellington, led the business, tourism and screen activities of WellingtonNZ as General Manager Regional Development, and most recently David has and continues to lead, for Wellington City Council, the commercial development of and around the newly opened Tākina, Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre.
As Chair of Regional Tourism New Zealand, David leads the representation of local government interests in all aspects of the visitor sector to government, its agencies, and the industry.
David is also a Board Member of Business Events Industry Aotearoa, Chair of the Wellington Cable Car Company, and holds several other appointed governance roles in tourism sector organisations.
