David commenced his career in the human resources profession in 1990, working for Scaw Metals Limited. At the time this was the largest privately owned iron and steel manufacturing works in the Southern Hemisphere.  This experience presented David with a wonderful opportunity to cut his teeth as a graduate starting out his Human Resources career in the metal industry.  During this eight year period David was promoted several times and reporting to the HR Director, was responsible for managing the provision of a broad range of human resource services in a rigorous and demanding heavy engineering manufacturing environment.  He became a well-seasoned HR practitioner, managing wide-ranging Human Resources and Industrial Relations matters for a workforce which consisted of up to 7200 employees.

Following his experience in the metal industry, David broadened his exposure to human resources by working in the Civil Engineering and Construction industry for two years as a Human Resource Manager for Stocks Roads Limited, later acquired by Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon Limited (WBHO).  As a leading South African building and construction company, WBHO is principally involved in Building Construction, Civil Engineering and Roads and Earthworks.  In Australia WBHO has a strategic alliance partnership with Probuild Construction which commenced in 2001.

After ten years working in the heavy engineering, metal manufacturing and construction sectors in South Africa and gaining significant hands on Human Resources experience, David successfully established his own human resource consulting and recruitment business in Johannesburg, a year prior to migrating to Australia in early 2001.

After settling in Melbourne, he initially was employed by Adecco for three years working for two specialist brands, Management Recruiters Australia and TAD Technical Career & Contracts, up until late 2004 when he joined Dakin Mayers.  David has built a sound reputation for recruiting technical and operational professionals across a range of industry sectors, and specialises in executive recruitment and search for senior management, technical and operations roles primarily in engineering, infrastructure and manufacturing.  His experience and proven capability as a human resources generalist ensures he is able to operate successfully on consulting assignments across other industry functions such as sales, marketing, accounting and finance.

Stemming from his background working with engineers combined with his studies in Psychology and overriding interest in people, David has the ability to connect with others. This is a significant characteristic and helps to makes him a highly effective recruiter who is able to source “hard to find” executives for specialised roles often simply by tapping the relevant people on the shoulder.

David has a Bachelor of Social Science Degree from the University of Cape Town (1987) as well as a BA Honors Degree in Psychology from the University of South Africa (1995).  He is a member of AHRI’s International HR Management Group in Victoria and a Deacon at North Balwyn Baptist Church.  He places a strong focus on providing a responsive service and has the capacity to evaluate and match client and candidate needs.