Dave Straker has had a broad career, with quality running as a red thread through it all. Starting in electronic engineering, he became a maths teacher, then a software engineer, a marketing manager, a test engineer, support manager, quality consultant, acquisitions manager, change manager and general business consultant.
After many years in Hewlett Packard and the spin-off Agilent Technologies, and with a stint as an independent consultant, he now works at the National Assessment Agency in London, where he is helping to ensure national curriculum testing conforms to regulated government standards whilst managing relocation activity that will enable the organization move to Coventry in one piece.
To keep busy he studies (currently doing a MSc. in psychology), develops high-content websites and writes (such as Qualityworld's Tools of the Trade column). He has two grown-up children and lives in Berkshire with his wife and two enthusiastic retrievers.
More information on David Staker's work can be found at his website www.syque.com/ and www.changingminds.org/