One of the original judging team, David's major interests are music, design and performance.
David has performed on piano as associate artist in cabaret performances at the Queanbeyan School of Arts Cafe and Theatro Vivaldi in Canberra. He has been a member of the popular Canberra-based Aeolus Wind Trio, in which he plays the bassoon, for 25 years! In 2004, David also recorded Rumpole-esque bassoon solos for the National Archives' permanent exhibition at the High Court of Australia. He accompanied on piano and produced vocal arrangements for the Woden Valley Youth Choir for a number of years and toured with them to Japan in 1985 and Brisbane in 1988. He was the musical director for the acclaimed 1992 Canberra production of Noël and Gertie.
David is a professional graphic designer and was previously the Head of Graphic Design at the University of Canberra and the Design Director of the Australian Government Publishing Service. He designed the CAT Awards logo and Awards certificates. His book The Design Manual published by UNSW Press, won an Australian Award for Educational Publishing in 2002.
In 2003, he became the artistic director and general manager of Canberra Youth Music and is and is now Director of the Corporate and Web Communications Team in an Australian Government department in Canberra.
David is married and lives in Canberra with Brigid and their three daughters, Kathleen, Maggie and Elizabeth.