Dr David J Bennett has a PhD in biochemical genetics and an MA in science policy studies with long term experience, activities and interests in the relations between science, industry, government, education, law, the public and the media. He has worked in universities and companies in the UK, USA, Australia and The Netherlands. He is a member of numerous national and international organisations and committees in biotechnology, and works with the European Commission, government departments, companies, universities, public interest organisations and the media in these areas. His activities are international throughout Europe and worldwide, and especially long-standing with Asian countries and China in particular.

He has coordinated numerous European Commission projects in international cooperation, public perceptions, international relations and education such as the "European Focus on Biotechnology in China" (EFBIC) programme, the EC Quality of Life & Management of Living Resources programme project "European Federation of Biotechnology Task Group on Public Perceptions of Biotechnology" and the EC FAIR programme project "Bioethical Aspects of Biotechnology in the Agrofood Sector". He has organised many conferences and workshops including, as coordinator of the EFB Task Group on Public Perceptions of Biotechnology, the co-organisation during 2000-4, for example, of eight international multistakeholder workshops on environmental decision-making, transgenic animals, risk assessment, options for animal feed and embryonic stem cell technology, four focus workshops on "Who should communicate with the public and how?" and two advanced courses on "Bioethics and Public Perceptions of Biotechnology". As part of the "European Focus on Biotechnology in China (EFBIC)" programme from 2002-4 he has organised workshops on cell-free protein factories, genomics, technology transfer, SARS, medical microbiology, informatics, and GMO biosafety.