David Woodgate

David Woodgate DL has been a Deputy Lieutenant for Oxfordshire since 2023. He is part of the Lieutenancy team focused on South Oxfordshire and is the Lieutenancy’s link to Henley-on-Thames. He holds the Lieutenancy’s emergency services brief for the County.

A graduate of University College London, David leveraged his Bachelor of Science degree in Geoscience to embark on a global career that has seen him work across five continents for more than three decades. His professional career has led him as far afield as Siberia and Brazil, Mozambique and Kazakhstan. David has worked closely with host governments across the world, including in Africa, Asia, and Europe, developing significant understanding of regulatory frameworks and processes.

In Oxfordshire, David is a Trustee and former Chair of Lowland Rescue Oxfordshire, a charity that works closely with Thames Valley Police to search for vulnerable missing people. He also holds national roles for Lowland Rescue, working across the 34 regional teams throughout the United Kingdom. David became Chair of the charity in 2018 and steered the team to further expansion. During David’s tenure, the team received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. He received recognition, in 2022, with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medal.

David has also built strong relationships with Thames Valley Police, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue, and other key services throughout the County. During the global COVID-19 pandemic, Lowland Rescue Oxfordshire provided vital support to the emergency services.

David is a keen cyclist. He lives in Henley-on-Thames with his wife Kursha.