Dr David Priest is Executive Leader for Programmes & Innovation and a Board Member at FIPS Africa. He joined FIPS in 2010 and, across 16 years with the organisation, served as Chief Executive Officer from 2018 to 2026. In 2026, Dave moved into his current role, returning his focus to the technical strategy, innovation and organisational learning that first drew him to agricultural development, while continuing to serve on the Board.
Dave has a passion for scaling practical, farmer-centred solutions that strengthen livelihoods and build sustainable food systems across Sub-Saharan Africa. In his new role, he channels that into enabling learning at an organisational level, supporting teams to draw out lessons and deploying them to catalyse impact through FIPS and its partners. He holds a PhD in Plant Science from the University of York, is a Kenyan permanent resident based in Nairobi, and is a keen water polo player outside of work.