David leads NEREO’s employment and employee relations offer, providing strategic HR and organisational development support to public sector organisations across the North East and beyond. His work spans organisational transformation, workforce development, job evaluation, service redesign and the design and delivery of training, bringing together a breadth of expertise that supports member organisations at every stage of change. It is work that David approaches with a genuine commitment to delivering practical, people-centred solutions that make a lasting difference to the organisations and communities he serves.
David’s association with NEREO stretches back to 2011, when he joined as a consultant, having previously worked at the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership where he developed a strong foundation in public sector improvement and reform. Over the years that followed, he built and extended NEREO’s organisational development and transformation offer, drawing on his extensive experience across local government, blue light services, regional improvement bodies and employers’ organisations to shape a service that is both technically rigorous and deeply responsive to the realities of working in public services. He became Co-Director in April 2026.
At the heart of David’s work is a commitment to helping organisations find better ways of working. Whether that means reviewing and restructuring workforce capacity, implementing new operational models, facilitating Lean service reviews, or guiding teams through complex change management processes, he brings recognised best practice methodology alongside genuine sensitivity to the human dimensions of transformation. His programme and project management support has helped numerous public sector organisations deliver successful outcomes and achieve efficiencies without losing sight of their people.
David is also a respected designer and deliverer of training and development programmes. From bespoke in-house workshops and capacity building interventions to e-learning materials and coaching and mentoring support, he works with organisations to build the internal capability they need to sustain improvement long after a project has concluded. His work on organisational governance, including senior officer reviews and chief officer appraisal processes, is trusted by members and senior leaders who value his ability to deliver robust, fair and evidence-based outcomes.
Beyond the North East, David works closely with national and international partners, including the Local Government Association in England, NILGA, the Local Government Staff Commission in Northern Ireland, and SPDS in Scotland. That wider perspective informs and enriches his regional work, ensuring that NEREO members benefit from insight and practice drawn from across the UK and further afield. David is always happy to discuss how he can support your organisation, so please do get in touch using the contact details below.