David Crofts has over 30 years experience in working at the local, state and national level, specialising in public sector management and policy, strategic planning, local service delivery strategy, and economic development.
David has extensive experience at senior management levels of the Australian Public Service and within Local Government. He is qualified company director, holding a Company Directors Diploma from AICD. He has been a company director for over a decade, including an active role on board governance and finance subcommittees.
He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of the Planning Institute of Australia.
He is a Board member of Newcastle Now (the Newcastle City Centre revitalisation/business improvement district Board) and Chair of the Hunter Wetland Centre Board.
At the national level David led a reform program for development approval systems, as well as several ground breaking studies into housing, urban infrastructure and the relationship between housing, jobs and services.
He has received an Australian Public Service Departmental Australian Day Medallion for his work on Local Government and Housing.
At the local level David was responsible for City Strategy of the City of Newcastle, as Group Manager City Strategy. A member of Council’s executive team, his responsibilities included asset management, strategic planning, economic development, infrastructure funding (Section 94) and social planning, amongst other areas.
While he was in this role Newcastle underwent a transition from an economy dependent on steel making to an economy based on service industries, such as health and education.
Just under 10 years ago David established a consultancy business- Strategy Hunter. In this role he has advised such clients as urban and rural Councils, the University of Newcastle, State Government Department and NGO’s. He has extensive experience in community consultation.
David has presented to a range of national, state and local conferences and workshops.
He is well known for his lateral and pragmatic approach to strategic planning and organisational change, his knowledge of the impact of technology on society and organisations and his ability to communicate with a wide variety of audiences.
David works well with staff and community members at all levels, and is committed to building local capacity.