Dave joined NZCFS in 1991, and after a three year stint as Hawkes Bay Branch President he has served on National Executive since 2000, including 8 years as vice-president, and National President since 2014.
He has visited China in excess of 45 times, with a total of more than 8 years spent in China. His main activity has been in rural development consultancy, focusing on assisting with the development of cooperatives through a range of private and NZCFS projects. He is also a vice-chair of Gung Ho (International Committee for the Promotion of Chinese Industrial Cooperatives), working largely in the North-west of China. Inspiration comes from the earlier work of Rewi Alley. He has been contact person between NZCFS and Shandan Bailie School, where he has facilitated the placement of teachers since 2001, and where the NZCFS rural development projects were initially based.