David Philpott has been Chief Executive of the Kent Air Ambulance Trust since October 2003. Previously he held a similar position with the Essex Air Ambulance.

 

After completing an undistinguished Secondary Modern education in Bromley in 1975 with a handful of O 'levels, his varied career has seen him working in local government, drug and alcohol addiction counselling, educational and healthcare development in Africa and local commercial radio before he became an expert in this, his chosen field

 

Under his leadership, the Kent Air Ambulance charity expanded into Surrey and Sussex in 2006 and began to recruit and train specialist doctors who now fly on every air ambulance mission. 

 

David is also the Chairman of the Association of Air Ambulance Charities and as such represents all of the UK's independent helicopter operators and through the Department of Health sponsored Air Ambulance Working Group consults with clinicians and academics in their interface with policy makers in Whitehall.  Additionally, David sits on the scientific committee of the European HEMS and Air Ambulance Committee (EHAC). He is also a board member of the Lotteries Council

 

In 2005 David was nominated as Charity Principle of the Year and in 2006 was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine.

 

He lives in Ashford, Kent with his wife Karan.  Outside of work, he enjoys sampling local beers, sleeping and watching football on telly (but not necessarily in that order).