Dave holds a BSc (Hons) degree in geophysics from Melbourne University (1975) and a PhD in Economic Geology from Adelaide University (1983). He has worked primarily in the mineral exploration sector for more than 40 years, involved in projects for gold, base metals, diamonds and iron ore. These projects have been conducted in Australia, Africa, Canada, India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

From 1975 to 1979, he conducted a postgraduate research project on the Broken Hill region, after which he spent seven years with BHP Minerals as a project geophysicist. From 1987 to 1993, he was engaged as a consultant geophysicist with the airborne contractor World Geoscience Corporation, specialising the interpretation of aeromagnetics. In 1993, he formed an independent consultancy and became directly involved with several junior mining and exploration companies. Since then, he has held executive directorships with New Hampton Goldfields, Grenfell Resources and Gravity Capital Ltd, and non-executive directorships with Mineral Deposits Ltd and Stellar Resources Ltd. Apart from operational exploration roles, he has had substantial involvement with R&D and training activities and has a special interest in promoting the effective use of aeromagnetics.

Dave joined SGC as a consultant in 2009. He is a member of the ASEG and AIG