Dave leads CropLife UK, which is the trade association for UK companies providing crop protection solutions.  CropLife UK promotes the essential role of science and innovation in protecting food, parks, gardens, roads and railways; and advocates good stewardship, better regulation and best practice. 

Until June 2020 Dave led the Health and Safety Executive’s work to ensure that UK chemicals regulation would be operable and effective post-Brexit.  From 2011 - 2017 he led the UK regulatory authority for plant protection products, biocides, and other chemicals. 

Dave has spent most of his career leading specialist teams and in strategic policy roles in UK Government.  He started his career dealing with risk assessment of plant protection products.  Throughout his career he has been involved in policy development and regulation in a range of areas, including genetic modification in agriculture, animal health, marine, and particularly chemicals & plant protection products.