For over 15 years David’s work has involved understanding evolutionary processes, human systems ecology, large-scale systemic risk, and supporting policy and societal responses to our transforming risk environment.
A physicist by background, has written about societal complexity and vulnerability; the financial and socio-economic implications of a peak in global oil production; how energy, climate change and other constraints could initiate catastrophic financial and monetary shocks through trade networks and critical infrastructures; pandemic shocks; civilisation dynamics; and integrated approaches to emergent systemic risk with a view to preparedness.
Mainly an independent consultant, he has given briefings, lectures, workshops, and scenario/ exercise design support to governmental and non-governmental organisations, critical institutions, critical infrastructure companies, and civil society. David taught a masters course on Human Systems Ecology & Systemic Risk at Masaryk University in the Czech Republic. He was a ministerial appointment to the council of Comhar, Ireland’s sustainable development commission. He spent a number of years on the executive committee of Feasta, The Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability. He contributed to the development of ‘The FAN’ (Foresight Analysis Nexus).
Up until the beginning of 2020, he was director of Risk and Response at the Geneva global Initiative. His work was aimed at understanding capacities and encouraging large-scale preparedness and contingency planning for intensifying global systemic risk. This included engagement with governments, contingency agencies, militaries, intergovernmental and civil society organisations.
His current projects are focused on supporting integrated sensemaking around our deteriorating risk environment; decisionmaking under high constraint/ deep uncertainty; while encouraging whole-of-society preparedness journies.
David has enjoyed collaborating with a range of artists in Ireland and the United Kingdom on scientific and civilisational themes. He finds respite in long-distance hiking.
David studied physics at Trinity College Dublin, the University of London and the Tyndall National Institute.