David Feeney was appointed Victorian Defence Industry Advocate (VDIA) in November 2025. David has worked across defence industry in various board, strategic advisory and consulting roles.

David’s previous work experience includes working in the trade union movement and the organisational wing of the Australian Labor Party. He served as a Federal Industrial Officer in the National Office of the Transport Workers Union (1994 to 1999), State Secretary and Campaign Director for the Australian Labor Party in Victoria (1999-2002) and Campaign Director for the Australian Labor Party in South Australia (2005-2006). David worked as the Director of Strategy in the Office of Premier Steve Bracks (2002-2005).

In 2007 David was elected as a Senator for Victoria, being appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Defence in 2010 in the First Gillard Ministry. His responsibilities included ADF force structure, the Pacific Maritime Security Plan, acting as a liaison with Pacific Island Countries and responsibility for ADF Reserves and Defence Estate. In 2013 David was elected to the House of Representatives as the member for Batman and was appointed Shadow Minister for Justice and Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence. The portfolios of Veterans Affairs and ANZAC Commemoration were later added to David’s responsibilities. Throughout his parliamentary career David was a keen participant in the ADF Parliamentary Program, regularly visiting ADF operations in Afghanistan, the Persian Gulf and the South Pacific. 

David’s qualifications include a PhD from the University of Melbourne and a Masters’ in Public Policy and Management (MPPM) from Monash University. David is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

David is married to Judge Liberty Sanger OAM, Victorian State Coroner, and they have two children, Ned and Matilda.