David graduated from Cambridge University (UK) in 1973, with a Master's degree in Land Economy.  In 1976 he completed the Diploma in Landscape Architecture at Lincoln College (now Lincoln University).

Following a stint with the Ministry of Works in Wellington, he worked for Nelson City Council, preparing management plans for the city's parks network, and then for the Ministry of Works in Nelson.  A period in private practice was followed by a year in Sydney, to help with landscape developments in preparation to Sydney's Bicentennial celebrations.

Returning to Nelson, David re-established his local contacts and provided the region with landscape advice for thirteen years, interrupted by a short period in Auckland, where he honed his landscape assessment skills.

Over the six years to mid-2010 he helped Christchurch City Council with their parks planning, including the auditing of parks development in new residential subdivisions, coastal management investigations, strategic planning for new open space networks in greenfield and urban regeneration areas, and the management of heritage landscapes.