Dave's introduction to shortwave radio was in the 1970s, listening to the Voice of America, Radio Moscow and the BBC. He obtained his first amateur radio license in the UK while at school, as G4HJT. He then took a break from radio for many years - at college he devoted his energy to another passion, caving (spelunking), as a team member, co-organizer or leader of expeditions to discover and explore some of the world's deepest caves. Professional life then took over - Dave has worked as an analytical scientist in both academia and industry. He has published over 60 research papers, edited two books on separations science, and has been editor of two international scientific journals. He holds a BSc in Physics and PhD in Chemistry from the University of York, UK.

Active in amateur radio again as K3EL since the mid-2000s, Dave now enjoys CW ragchewing, occasional contesting, SOTA (chasing and activating), chasing DX, and when possible, being DX. He was a member of the ZL9HR DXpedition to Campbell Island in 2012. He organized TX5RV, a mini-DXpedition to Raivavae, Austral Islands, in 2013, and was a member of the VK9MT Mellish Reef DXpedition in 2014. Dave is a life member of the ARRL, a member of the Frankford Radio Club, A-1 Ops, the Chiltern DX Club, NCDXF and INDEXA.