Mr David Pearson

David recognises that ending homelessness is possible and that it is not normal or something we should accept. He has worked towards this goal in a range of roles in the community, government, university and philanthropic sectors, including currently as the CEO of the Australian Alliance to End Homelessness where he is working on a campaign to support local community’s efforts to end rough seeping homelessness in Australia. 

David is currently a Myer Innovation Fellow, Industry Adjunct at the Australian Alliance for Social Enterprise at the University of South Australia and a senior advisor for the Institute of Global Homelessness (IGH).

Between 2016-2019 he was the Executive Director of the Don Dunstan Foundation – where he led the establishment and development of the Adelaide Zero Project, a collective impact initiative of over 45 organisations all working together in new ways to end street homelessness in the inner city of Adelaide.

Prior to this David was the Senior Policy Adviser to a number of South Australian Premiers and Commonwealth Government Ministers in a range of portfolio areas including mental health, social inclusion, creative industries, innovation and economic development. David has a Bachelor of International Studies and a Bachelor of Media, with Honours in Politics and Public Policy from the University of Adelaide.

David is a director of the Adelaide Fringe Festival the world’s second largest open access arts festival, a director of Community Bridging Services SA a leading disability employment services NGO in South Australia and a director of the Social Impact Investment Network of South Australia (SIINSA). In 2019 David was recognised as one of the top 40 Under 40 leaders in South Australia.

• 2020 – Present – Board Director, Community Bridging Services Inc
• 2019 – Present – Chair, Adelaide Fringe Festival Artist Fund
• 2019 – Present – Chair Advisory Board, University of South Australia Yunus Social Business Centre
• 2017-Present – Director, the Adelaide Fringe Festival
• 2016-Present – Board Member, Social Impact Investment Network of SA

Work history

• CEO - Australian Alliance to End Homelessness - Apr 2020 – Present
• Industry Adjunct - Australian Alliance for Social Enterprise, University of SA - Oct 2019 – Present
• Australian Senior Advisor - Institute of Global Homelessness - Oct 2019 – Present
• Executive Director - The Don Dunstan Foundation - Aug 2016 – Oct 2019
• Senior Adviser - Office of Premier Jay Weatherill - Government of South Australia - Jan 2012 – Aug 2016
• Senior Adviser - Office of Mark Butler MP, Minister for Mental Health and Ageing - Nov 2010 – Jan 2012
• Policy Adviser - Office of the Premier of South Australia - Jun 2009 – Nov 2010