David Shelmerdine AO is a director of IEEFA Australia, the Chair of Nature Signal Pty Ltd, and a councillor at the Melbourne University Biodiversity Institute. He serves on the Myer Foundation Sustainability and Environment Committee and was the founding director and former deputy chairman of the ClimateWorks Centre. Recognized for his leadership in climate action, sustainable development, and nature-based solutions, he brings decades of expertise in climate change, food and land use systems, and sustainable agriculture.
He is the managing director of Laradoc, a privately owned investment company with interests spanning nature markets, agricultural and food technology solutions. With a Graduate Diploma (Hons) in Agriculture from Adelaide University’s Roseworthy College, he has held senior leadership and governance roles across multiple agribusiness and private market investment ventures. David is the former chair of Australian Desert Expeditions, and a past director of Accounting for Nature, one of the world’s leading standards for measuring the state of nature.
David has served as director and past president of the Gold Standard Foundation in Geneva, which certifies and maximises the impact of global sustainability projects supporting the Paris Climate Agreement and the SDGs. He was also deputy chairman of The Myer Family Investment Company, contributing to its investment, remuneration, nominations, and audit and governance committees.
Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2025 for his distinguished service to conservation and environmental sustainability, David continues to bridge philanthropy, business, and policy. His work focuses on evidence-based, market-ready solutions that accelerate climate and nature outcomes while supporting resilient food and land use systems.