David Bryan, CBE

Chair, London Area Council
Founder and Director, Xtend (UK) Ltd.
A portrait of a black male with thick black framed glasses

David Bryan was awarded a CBE for his services to the Arts. He is the Chair of Brixton House, Creative Lives (UK) and Chair of the Arts and Creative Economy Advisory Group for the British Council. He is a member of the Mayor’s Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm.

David is Founder/Director of Xtend (UK) Ltd., an organisation development consultancy, working across the public sector for over 30 years. He was a director of a community enterprise (bookshop) in the 1970s and the CEO for an arts enterprise, Brixton Village in the 1980s both pioneering ventures.
He has a long history of work on organisational change, leadership development and diversity in the public, voluntary and arts sector as well as working with international organisations.

He has been a visiting lecturer and course organiser in academia with Kings College, Southbank University, Goldsmith College and City Lit delivering leadership programmes, management course, social studies practice, and literature. He has and MBA from Southbank University.

His early years were spent working with community organisations building capacity. This work led him to be co-opted onto the board of the National Council for Voluntary organisations. Throughout his engagement in community development, he has been a staunch advocate for independent voices, inclusion, social enterprise and civic responsibility.
He was appointed to the National Council under the leadership of Sir Peter Bazalgette and returned after a couple of years as the Chair for the London Area Council, sponsored by the Mayor of London Office.

Term of appointment: 1 January 2023 - 31 December 2026.