His research interests focus on public health leadership, public health workforce development, the history of public health and public involvement in public health. David is currently leading the public health workforce theme in the Centre for Public Health and Wellbeing and contributes to the Leadership module on the MSc Public Health.

David is on the board of the UK Public Health Register , is the specialty tutor for UWE for the South West Public Health Training Programme , a member of the Faculty of Public Health workforce committee and on the editorial board of Critical Public Health.

Prior to joining UWE Bristol, David was one of the first English directors of public health from a background other than medicine.

David is Chair of the University Research Ethics Sub-Committee.

David acts as a director of studies for postgraduate students and has experience of internal and external doctoral examination; he is always happy to talk to prospective students regarding doctoral studies in his areas of research interest.