David Fairhurst

David Fairhurst co-founded Mutual Ventures in 2011 and is our Executive Chair. His career spans time in the public service, data science, corporate finance, and management consultancy. He specialises in alternative models for public service delivery and the use of data analytics to improve outcomes. David has advised Central and Local Government on initiatives including executive agencies, shared services, arms-length organisations, and social enterprise.

David plays a key role in Mutual Ventures’ Children’s Services projects, focusing on structural and organisational innovation. He has recently led our work to support the development of Regional Care Cooperatives in Children’s Social Care and advises on organisational options for children’s services, particularly in the context of Local Government Reorganisation.

A Yorkshireman by birth right, David now lives in exile in Oxfordshire. In his leisure time, David loves a wide range of music and continues a 30-year battle to learn guitar. He is a keen runner, fan of Parkruns, lover of ski holidays, music festivals and sufferer of Middlesbrough FC. To unwind, a cool glass of wheat beer and a good box set usually hits the spot.