David's research activity is focused on two key aspects: sector level work on leadership and an internal research project that is exploring the intersection between creative thinking and critical thinking

• leadership, strategic thinking and advocacy in the creative industries with particular reference to the higher education sector and the role of arts within the secondary education sector. I now lead the CHEAD Leadership programme and schedule leadership development sessions on behalf of the sector (see https://chead.ac.uk/leadership-programme/ )
• creative thinking <intersection> critical thinking

“Exploring the intersection between creative thinking and critical thinking in support of developing an enquiry led pedagogy”.
Utilising the research strengths of the College and the opportunity to examine creative practice within a creative art school setting, explore the intersection between the two areas of thinking (creative and critical) with a view to define an approach that translates the tacit to explicit within a wider skills framework pertinent to successful graduates of the future and can be deployed into non-creative areas.

Under David's interim tenure at Derby, real progress in respect of research and innovation, specially within the area of knowledge exchange and enterprise. David's enterprise work can be seen in two key engagements: through his work with Dubrek Studios (a local commercial recording studio/social venue that the University of Derby partnered with and signed an agreement to support mentorship and work experience) and with GoldBox Productions (a graduate led start-up company with whom we partnered with signalling potential university support for new business ventures).