David became President of EGDF in 2013 and has led its growth in membership, campaigning, fundraising and working co-operatively with other European organisations. He has impressive experience in charity governance combined with an international business background as European Finance Director. He served as chairman of the Royal National College for the Blind in the UK for 10 years, initiating and overseeing a £20 million building programme and the re-organisation of the college. He also served as founding chairman of The Priors School, saving it from closure by the local education authority and running it as an independent fee-free village school for 15 years until it became the first government-funded Free School in 2011. David became a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and is an alumnus of Warwick Business School. He had a successful international career in the motor industry, and then ran his own business for many years. He has raised large amounts for charity, initiating, organising and participating in fundraising campaigns, including Cycle Cuba for Guide Dogs UK. In 2005 he ran the London Marathon for the RNCB, the Blind Business Association, RP Fighting Blindness, and the Priors School. In 2013 he ran the Plymouth Half Marathon for Motor Neurone Disease. RP runs in his family with his mother and brother also affected. He got his first guide dog, Zoey, five years ago and lost his last useful vision in 2013.
