David Melding AM, CBE has been a member of the National Assembly for Wales since its creation in 1999. Before entering politics David worked in the voluntary (not for profit) sector and was the Welsh director of a major UK campaigning charity. He was the Deputy Presiding Officer of the National Assembly between 2011 and 2016.
Although his Party, the Conservatives, initially opposed the establishment of the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament, David has argued the case for a federal Britain as the best way forward – a major shift in Conservative thinking which is now gaining ground.
He is the author of Will Britain Survive Beyond 2020? and The Reformed Union: The UK as a Federation.
David has chaired several committees in the National Assembly: Standards of Conduct (2000-2002), Health and Social Services (2003-2006) Legislation (2006-2007) and the Audit Committee (2007-2009). He is a current member of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee.
When Director of Policy, Welsh Conservative Group, David was responsible for producing the Assembly Manifestos in 2003, 2007 and 2011. He is the founder of the Welsh Think Tank, Gorwel, the Welsh Foundation for Innovation in Public Affairs.
David was educated at Cardiff University (BscEcon) and the College of William and Mary, Virginia, USA (MA).
