David has had 20 years of experience in the zoo industry, in roles varying from curatorial to public education/interpretation. As a keeper and aquarist he has worked with a wide range of vertebrates, from native and exotic fishes to primates and Australian native mammals.
However, David’s particular area of expertise is reptiles, particularly crocodylians and monitor lizards, both in captivity and in the wild. He is a member of IUCN Species Survival Commission Crocodile Specialist Group and is a founding member of the IUCN SSC Monitor Lizard Specialist Group. He has produced scientific publications and presented seminars at international conferences on both groups and was also co-author of Biology and Evolution of Crocodylians, winner of the 2015 Whitley Medal.
In his role as a public educator/interpreter, David set up and managed the interpretation and graphics department for Sydney Attractions Group, designing and creating interpretive/educational graphics, videos and other interpretive material for Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Wildlife World. He also designed and produced interpretive graphics for S.E.A. Aquarium in Singapore and developed interpretive material for two large conservation-themed developments at Taronga Zoo in the lead-up to the zoo’s centenary in 2016.
