David is currently the Group Chief People Officer at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and will take up his role as Chair in March 2025. He brings vast industry experience and expertise: for the last five years, David has been a board member at both Sellafield Ltd and the Engineering Construction Industrial Training Board, as well as previously being Chairman and Director of Energus, a training business based in Cumbria. David said:

Across our science-based industries having the right people and skills is vital to achieving net zero, developing innovative new medicines and diagnostics, and supporting process-based manufacturing.

Cogent Skills Group Chief Executive Officer, Justine Fosh, said:

I’m really pleased to welcome David as our new Chair, at a pivotal time for the organisation. I look forward to working with him on a range of exciting projects in the years to come, as Cogent brings industry together to help science and technology employers futureproof their workforce for the challenges which lie ahead.

I would also like to thank Joanna Woolf for all her support and guidance. Her hard work and commitment during her tenures as Chair and CEO have been integral to ensuring Cogent Skills is well positioned for future success.