David Ritter, CEO

David Ritter, CEO photo

David Ritter

Photo by Ella Colley

Hi, I’m David Ritter and thanks for checking out this page!

It is my privilege to lead the talented and determined team at Greenpeace Australia Pacific where we are campaigning for a green and peaceful future for all.

I’ve loved Greenpeace since I was a kid.

I came back to Australia to take up the role as CEO of Greenpeace Australia Pacific in 2012 after five years working in a senior campaigns position with Greenpeace in London. Living in the UK was fantastic - but the opportunity to come home and play a part in the struggle against the fossil fuel companies that are harming our beautiful country was too important to refuse. 

I’m from Perth originally but now live in Sydney with my wife Frances. We’ve got two wonderful and curious daughters who are often in my mind when I’m at work, as we pursue the mission of securing an Earth capable of nurturing life in all of its magnificent diversity. Before joining Greenpeace, I spent more than a decade working as a lawyer, with a particular focus on native title.

My work involves doing quite a bit of writing and speaking and my most recent book is The Coal Truth: The Fight to Stop Adani, Defeat the Big Polluters and Reclaim our Democracy.  

I’m an honorary fellow of the Faculty of Law at the University of Western Australia; and a Research Affiliate of the Sydney Environment Institute (SEI), an Associate at the Sydney Policy Lab and an Adjunct Professor in the Sydney Democracy Network (SDN), all at Sydney University. 

I post updates about what I am doing and events I am speaking at on social media.  It would be great to hear from you, so please let me know if you have any feedback by emailing me here or by reaching out to me on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin or Instagram.