David was educated as an electrochemist at Cambridge and received a PhD and ScD.
David joined CSIRO in 1969 to develop enhanced electrocatalysts for fuel cells. In 1977, he established CSIRO’s Battery Research Group and remained its leader until 2003.
He was CSIRO’s scientific advisor on hydrogen and renewable energy, until his retirement 2008. Since then, he has served CSIRO as an Honorary Research Fellow and as the Chief Energy Scientist of the World Solar Challenge.
David’s research has been recognized by the award of the Faraday Medal of the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Gaston Planté Medal.