I'm David, and I'm thinking and writing about the world we want to become.

I have long experience working in human rights, and am an Associate Fellow at Chatham House. I was previously Director of the Office of the Secretary General at Amnesty International, and before that led the organisation's work in South Asia.

There are three strands to what I am doing now:

Consultancy

Through my consultancy, Free Thought, I work with philanthropy, governments, and NGOs to develop ideas and strategy. I'm also a regular speaker and facilitator. Recent clients include International Crisis Group, Open Society Foundations, and the Council of Europe.

Writing

I am currently working on a non-fiction book about imagining the future we want, courtesy of a grant from the Ford Foundation (more here). I am also making slow progress on a fiction manuscript.

Hosting

I have a small place in the French Pyrenees. It's available for booking via Airbnb and I can offer special rates for longer stays out of season if you are a writer, artist, activist, or simply need a time of restoration.

Other than that

I am based around London, but have Welsh and Dutch roots, an East African upbringing, and many spiritual homes. Outside work, I enjoy reading, photography, and live music.