David Harper

David Harper moved to Ashtead with his wife and two young children in 1992, attracted by Ashtead’s large gardens and schools, but also it’s semi-rural surroundings and safe village feel. It has been a wonderful experience and with the support of the Ashtead Residents’ Association was elected in 2016 with the ambition to maintain and improve the environment for present and future residents.

David is a qualified Chartered Engineer and his technical innovation has provided an exciting and rewarding career, culminating in 2011 when he raised finance to run his own specialist high technology satellite business with close support from European Space Agency, HSBC Bank, UKTI, Innovate UK, and UKEF. David is full time employed in this innovative micro-SME that has customers across Africa and Middle East.

Being an engineer by background David has an attitude that things must basically work before they are of any use. In engineering solutions, repetition and process are how to incrementally improve results; but this rigorous process supports the result and is not an end in itself. David started his career as a design engineer, someone who could be creative and see possible solutions to difficult problems. He brings these skills to the council looking at problem solving and creating new ways to improve the situation of Mole Valley for the benefit of residents and the community.

David has been involved in the development of Ashtead’s Neighbourhood Development Plan. As a member of the Ashtead Community Vision working group, David contributed to the survey of future housing needs in Ashtead.

David enjoys family life, singing and bell-ringing with the St.Giles tower band