David is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Accounting and Financial Management at Newcastle University Business School and an active researcher in sustainability accounting and finance. His research looks at how companies measure, disclose and are held accountable for their climate and environmental impact. He focuses on carbon emissions, sustainability reporting and corporate finance across developed and emerging markets. He is particularly interested in what makes corporate sustainability claims credible, including how markets and stakeholders respond to carbon performance and disclosure, and how governance and reporting can separate real progress from greenwashing. His recent work has been published in Emerging Markets Finance and Trade (2025).
Alongside his academic career, David brings industry and consultancy experience. He has advised start-up companies on finance, helping them build financial foundations, and he regularly develops proposals that assess the economic, environmental and social impact of organisations and projects. This includes his impact assessment work with The Alnwick Garden Trust, which traces its economic contribution over 25 years.
This mix of research, consultancy and industry practice shapes his teaching. He leads the undergraduate module Sustainability and Ethics. The module is accredited by the ICAEW and forms part of the Flying Start degree, a partnership between Newcastle University, PwC and the ICAEW. He also co-leads the postgraduate module Finance and Accounting for Sustainability. In both modules, real-world cases from his research and consultancy give students practical insight into sustainability challenges. His approach was recognised with the NUBS Sustainability Pioneer Award for Teaching Innovation. He also serves as Subject Expert in Sustainability for the Association of International Accountants (AIA), contributing to the syllabus, teaching materials and assessment for the AIA Diploma in Sustainability.
