Our Staff

David Dawson - Director


Biographies
David Dawson - Director
David started his career as a digging archaeologist on a wide range of sites, before studying at Durham University. He first came to the Museum in Devizes, studying Neolithic and Bronze Age Wessex. He then worked in museums in Sussex, Canterbury and Oxfordshire before joining the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, working on IT strategy. In 2008, he was appointed Director of the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society.
Academic Qualifications
• Associate of the Museums Association
• Post-Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies, Leicester University
• BA (Hons) Archaeology, Durham University
Posts Held
• Director, Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society (to present)
• Head of Digital Futures, Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (to 2008)
• Policy Advisor, Culture and Learning, Department for Education and Skills (secondment 2005-2006)
• ICT Policy Advisor, Museums and Galleries Commission (to 2002)
• ICT Advisor, Museum Documentation Association (to 1999)
• Business Manager, MDA Services (to 1995)
• Curator, Oxfordshire County Museum (to 1992)
• Head of Human History, Canterbury Museums (to 1988)
• Documentation Assistant, Sussex Archaeological Society (1983-1984)
• Site Supervisor, English Heritage – 5 seasons of excavation at Edlingham Castle, Northumberland
• Archaeological Volunteer on a range of archaeological sites in the UK, Italy and France
Current memberships
• Chair, UK UNESCO Memory of the World Working Group
• Member, UK UNESCO Communication and Information Commission
• Advisory Group Member, Higher Education Academy, History Classics and Archaeology Subject Centre
• Fellow, Society of Antiquaries of London
• Trustee, Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum