David Simmonds

David Simmonds was born in Kent and educated at comprehensive school in Pontypridd, later attending the University of Durham. He qualified with the Chartered Institute of Insurers in 1997. Following this, Simmonds worked in finance for Lloyds TSB and HSBC. He has been very active in local politics: Simmonds was elected as a councillor in 1998, and then became deputy leader of Hillingdon Council in 2002. He was the youngest councillor for the London area when first elected, and has since held a number of cabinet and committee positions, covering planning, housing, social services, and education and children’s services. Simmonds has also been deputy chairman of the Local Government Association, and is a passionate advocate for the power of local government. He has volunteered locally as a magistrate in North West London, as a trustee of the Early Intervention Foundation, and as a board member of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. Previous roles include time spent as chairman of the National Employers’ Organisation for Schoolteachers and chairman of the European Federation of Education Employers. Simmonds has been an active member of the Committee of the Regions and the Congress of the Council of Europe.