David is Chairman and founding owner of The Environment Bank Ltd which brokers funding from developments to create new, and enhance existing, wildlife habitats. He established one of the first environmental consultancies in the UK, which he subsequently merged with a plc. He has a strong professional and personal interest in biodiversity conservation and has worked in the planning and development control sector for over 25 years, advising corporates and developers on the environmental impacts of their projects. David was a founding member of Natural England, the Government's statutory advisers on the natural heritage, its Deputy Chair 2011 - 2016, and a member of the Board of the UK government’s Joint Nature Conservation Committee. He was a member of the Government’s Ecosystem Markets Taskforce and is currently Chair of the Northern Upland Nature Partnership. David is Chairman of Plantlife, which promotes the conservation of plants and is a Board Trustee of the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. He is passionate about nature conservation and enjoys bird watching and wildlife photography. David was awarded a CBE in the 2015 Queens Birthday Honours for services to nature conservation and the economy.