Professor David Gilchrist has worked in and around the human services sector for 30 years. He has held executive roles in, consulted to and been part of the governance team of various charitable human services organisations including in disability services, aged care and child protection. In all of these areas, David has contributed to policy and practice. Prior to joining the Academe, he was assistant auditor general for Western Australia and has taught at London School of Economics and Portsmouth University in the UK, and Curtin University and Edith Cowan University here in Australia. He was national associate dean of the business school at Notre Dame where he was also adjunct professor of Not-for-profit leadership.

David has researched in the areas of nonprofit sustainability, economics and governance and has written over 100 industry reports and papers focusing on key issues related to the sector. He has written, edited or contributed to eight books, is currently chair of Paraplegic Benefit Fund Limited and Primary Focus Limited. David was co-founder and co-director of the NPO Research Unit at Hebei GEO University, People's Republic of China where he is a visiting professor. David is also a visiting fellow at Queensland University of Technology's School of Accountancy and visiting professor Airlangga University in Surabaya, Indonesia. David was made a Fellow of the Parliament of Western Australia in 2021 and received a Meritorious Service Award from Chartered Accountants Australian and New Zealand in 2024.

Visiting Fellow, Queensland University of Technology, School of Accountancy

Visiting Professor: Airlangga University, Surabaya, Republic of Indonesia

Member: Asian Centre for Civil Society Research, 2021 -

Total Research Funding Achieved: $8,676,288

Example Recent Funding & Major Projects

2025

Funder: Allambee Counselling Incorporated

Project: Estimating the Economic Cost of Sexual Violence in Australia

Funding: $20,000

Funder: Commonwealth Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Project: Toward Interoperability of Australia-China Sustainable Finance Taxonomies

Funding: $580,000

2024

Funder: Melaleuca Australia

Project: Nonprofit Ecnomic Papers Program Support

Funidng: $5,000

Funder: Northern Territory Council of Social Service

Project: State of the Northern Territory Sector Report 2024

Funding: $25,000

Funder: Australian Capital Territory Government

Project: Forecasting Human Services Need

Funding: $25,000

Funder: Trawalla Foundation

Project: Pathways to Politics for Women Programme II

Funding: $75,000

Funder: Australian Accounting Standards Board

Project: Nonprofit Accounting Standards Research

Funding: $61,552

Funder: Australian Capital Territory Government

Project: Tools and Resources to Support Fully Costing Human Services Delivery

Funding: $150,000

2023

Funder: Minderoo Foundation

Project: Pathways to Politics for Women Programme I - Travel & Accommodation Assistance 

Funding: $30,000

Funder: Trawalla Foundation

Project: Pathways to Politics for Women Programme I

Funding: $50,000

2022

Funder: Australia New Zealand School of Government

Project: Governance and Smaller Statutory Agencies

Funding: $98,000

Funder: Institute of Community Directors Australia

Project: Australian Nonprofit Accounting Standards Research Program

Funding: $220,000

Funder: Tasmanian Council of Social Service

Project: The Tasmanian Human Services Indexation Project

Funding: $20,000

Funder: Queensland Council of Social Service

Project: The Queensland Human Services Indexation Project

Funding: $20,000

Funder: Australian Research Council

Project: The Economic and Social Contribution of the Western Australian CME Sector

Funding: $395,790