He was born in Western Australia in 1964. He moved to Melbourne in 1985 and started work as a builder’s labourer the same year. After that he started working as an organiser and industrial advocate with the Victorian Branch of the CFMEU, and its antecedent the Building Workers’ Industrial Union (BWIU), since 1988. Dave organised many major sites, including the Melbourne Cricket Ground Southern Stand, Mobil’s Altona Refinery and the Melbourne Museum; as well as areas of CFMEU coverage outside the building industry such as painters at the Anzac Frigate Project at Williamstown Dockyards.
Dave held elected positions on the Branch Management Committee and the National Conference of the Union for many years prior to becoming Assistant National Secretary of the CFMEU C&G Division and eventually National Secretary.
He combines this practical experience with avid reading of history, politics, biography and fiction. In that most important Australian yardstick – he barracks for the West Coast Eagles.
