Professional Qualifications
LLM, Victoria University of Wellington
Areas of expertise
Corporate and Commercial
Sir David is a consultant to the firm and a current Minter Ellison Rudd Watts Board member. He was previously a Chairman of Partners. Sir David's main area of professional expertise was as a
corporate lawyer. David has broad experience as a director in both the private and public sectors, as indicated by the positions he holds or has held (see below). He also has experience as an arts administrator, in a wide variety of roles.
Statutory Appointment
Judicial Conduct Commissioner (2009 - current) (Read more)
Chairman, Rugby World Cup 2011 Bid Advisory Committee (
Read more)
Independent Reviewer, Auditor-General's audit allocation processes
Memberships and directorships
Chairman, PSIS Limited
Chairman, Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand Limited
Chairman, New Zealand Opera Limited (known as the NBR New Zealand Opera)
Chairman, New Zealand Film Production Fund Trust (known as Film Fund 1)
Trustee, Wellington International Arts Foundation
Previous directorships include: Chairman, Transpower New Zealand Limited; Chairman, Norwich Union Holdings (NZ) Limited; Chairman, State Insurance Limited; Chairman, Sky City Leisure Limited; Chairman, Lambton Harbour Management Limited; Deputy Chairman, NRMA Insurance NZ Limited; Deputy Chairman, New Zealand Post Limited; Director, CBD New Zealand Limited; Director, Landmark Properties Limited; Director, Medical Assurance Society New Zealand Limited; and Director, Property Securities Limited.
Previous arts administration positions held: Chairman, New Zealand Film Commission; Executive Chairman, New Zealand International Festival of the Arts; Deputy Chairman, Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council; Board Member, National Art Gallery Council; and Board Member, Museum of New Zealand TePapa Tongarewa (known as Te Papa).
International recognition
2009 - Awarded KNZM (Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit); superseding award of DCNZM (Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit) in 2005 for his services to the arts and business
2006 - Awarded an inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award from Victoria University, Wellington
1989 - Awarded CBE (Commander of the British Empire) in 1989 for his services to film