The native of northwest England, David chose Indonesia as his adopted home in 1989. In 1998, he decided to give something back by using his diverse experience in civil engineering, marketing, teaching and writing to help the most impoverished regions in Bali on a path towards sustainable social and economic development, prioritising children's health, education and nutrition. Since founding the East Bali Poverty project in 1998, his foundation has educated over 400 children, 96 of which had graduated primary school by July 2005. safe water and community health projects, prioritising mothers and children, have benefited over 2,000 families and the whole region now looks forward to a brighter future led by their newly improved children. David's MBE award in 2004 was in recognition of his "service to Sustainable Rural Development in East Bali, Indonesia."