David Vousden has spent 25 years working directly with environmental and development issues. His career in coastal and offshore resource management includes two years of working with non-governmental organisations, 11 years as a senior civil servant in many different countries and 11 years of working within and for the United Nations and the Global Environment Facility, most recently as a consultant and advisor.

David has provided technical and policy level management advice on the environment and sustainable development to over 100 countries. He is a specialist in integrated ecosystem and resource management; parks development and management; marine and land-based pollution monitoring and control; emergency contingency planning and pollution response; international conventions and treaty negotiations; development of field and laboratory facilities; staff training and capacity building; and international project development, implementation and evaluation.

David was appointed director of the ASCLME project and coordinator of the three-project ASCLME programme in 2007. He relocated to Grahamstown, South Africa, with his family the same year.

David holds a PhD in marine science from the University of Wales, Bangor in the UK. He is married with two children, aged seven and nine.