Professional Training & Experience
- MEng (Hons), Civil Engineering, The Queen’s University of Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1993
- Chartered Member of The Institution of Structural Engineers, UK
- Chartered Member of The Institution of Civil Engineers, UK
After graduating in 1993, David worked for an engineering and architectural practice in Belfast where he gained design experience as a structural engineer through a variety of projects including shopping centres, multi-storey hotels, housing and office developments. He also gained practical experience as Resident Engineer for the construction of a multi-storey car park. In 1998, David left Northern Ireland, with his wife Melanie, to work for the Namibian government in Southern Africa. For most of the following 14 years, he worked for NGO’s, African governments and private consultants in Namibia, Lesotho and South Africa.
Ministry Experience
In 2012, despite being very settled in South Africa, David felt God’s call to use his skills in a mission organization and subsequently joined EMI, serving in their Uganda Office for 16 months. David was invited to be a part of the team to open a new EMI office in West Africa – an area of great need, both spiritually and physically. So, after a year and a half at a Christian French language school in Paris, David and his family moved to Senegal in September 2016, where David is now leading the office and work in West Africa.
Family
David and Melanie have four children – two girls and two boys. As third culture kids, they have experienced life in six different countries, have friends all around the world while maintaining their northern Irish roots. Melanie is currently involved in home-schooling three of the children. She has worked in environmental education in Northern Ireland, involved in training of trainers for the Namibian Ministry of Agriculture and wrote funding proposals for a local NGO in Lesotho. She has a bachelor’s degree in zoology, a teaching certificate and a master’s degree in rural development.