Speaker profile: David Holdsworth

David Holdsworth was appointed as Chief Executive of the Charity Commission in February 2024. Prior to that, David served as Chief Executive Officer of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), the UK’s biosecurity agency responsible for protecting the UK from zoonotic disease (those that can move from animals to humans) as well as pests and plant disease. Previously, David was the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO), an executive agency of UK Government responsible for intellectual property rights in the UK, where he had responsibility for delivery, policy and tribunals in relation to UK intellectual property rights, as well as representing the UK at international bodies. Immediately prior to his role at the IPO David was Deputy CEO and Registrar of Charities for England and Wales at the Charity Commission.