David has two decades of experience in biomedical research and development, specialising in implantable medical devices and is considered an international expert in preclinical safety studies. He has a strong publication track record in international peer-reviewed journals and is credited as an inventor on PCT-phase patents relating to the Australian ‘Bionic Eye’ and other retinal prostheses.

Prior to joining Evans and Partners, David led the Bionic Eye safety studies which paved the way for two successful clinical trials. Funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council, he led a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians, surgeons, and engineers in developing a novel implant, progressing towards clinical trials and commercialisation, to prevent certain forms of blindness.

As a former astronaut candidate finalist with the European Space Agency, David was invited to serve as a member of the inaugural Space Industry Innovation Council, a federal government initiative to outline a vision for the civil space sector and aid in the creation of Australia’s first space policy.

David has a Bachelor of Science and Electrical Engineering (Honours) and a PhD in Auditory Neuroscience from the University of Melbourne. In 2008 he completed a basic surgical skills training course with the Royal Australian College of Surgeons. More recently, he completed an MBA at the Melbourne Business School, where he and three colleagues won the 2020 Zurich Enterprise Challenge.

David maintains a casual appointment as a Senior Research Fellow at the Bionics Institute and the Centre for Eye Research Australia. He holds honorary clinical research positions at The University of Melbourne’s Department of Pathology and The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. He is a professional member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmology (RANZCO), the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) and the Society for Neuroscience (SfN).