David Parker

International Investment Promotion

Investment Promotion & Economic Development Leader. Advisor, Connector, Presenter and Optimist for cities, regions and countries around the world.
David Parker IIP

About Me

I’m passionate about Startups, Fintech, Corporate Innovation and Digital Transformation.
I believe that Governments have an important role in driving these agendas as part of their economic development and investment attraction.

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.

Steve Jobs

Who I've worked with

I have had the pleasure of working with many business locations across the world, assisting them with their investment attraction and/or connecting them with growth businesses.

My Experience

An experienced leader in the field of inward investment, having spearheaded multiple projects across the globe in a career spanning more than 30 years.

Recently completed a 5-year assignment in the Middle East serving the Bahrain Economic Development Board, chaired by HRH Crown Prince & Prime Minister, as Co-Chief Investment Officer. I also set up Bahrain Fintech Bay at this time and served as Board Member. 

Previous engagements have included ten years representing the Welsh Development Agency, including a posting to New York leading investment attraction from North America to Wales UK, three years serving InvestHK, part of the Hong Kong SAR Government and various assignments for cities, regions and countries across the world. 

David Parker Investment promotion

BAHRAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Co-Chief Investment Officer
July 2019 - January 2021
Executive Director
June 2016 - June 2019
  • Delivered a series of record breaking years for the Kingdom from 2017-20 in terms of investment attraction and high value jobs created.
  • Headed the EDBs work with Financial Services including Fintech, Technology & Innovation and the StartUp eco-system.
  • Launched Bahrain Fintech Bay in 2018 and Board Member through to 2021, putting Bahrain on the global map for innovation in finance.
  • Led the EDB’s global network of International Offices, including USA, Europe, India and China.

OXFORD INTELLIGENCE, UK

Commercial Director November
2014 - May 2016
  • Following the acquisition of Oxford Intelligence by Dutch consulting firm Ecorys, led the company’s international outreach in the investment promotion space.
  • Advised and supported Investment Promotion Agencies including Locate Jersey, Leeds City Region, Scottish Enterprise, Invest Northern Ireland and many others.
  • Collaborated with EY on its annual investment attractiveness survey, Oxford Intelligence being the chosen contractor for all data collection.
  • A recognised public speaker, facilitator, trainer and thought leader on inward investment.

INVEST HONG KONG, UK

Head of Investment Promotion
December 2011 - October 2014
  • Delivered a series of record breaking years from 2012-14 in terms of attracting inward investment to Hong Kong from Europe.
  • Led the promotion of Hong Kong in Europe as business location and gateway to mainland China.
  • Was part of the founding team behind the globally acclaimed StartmeupHK initiative aimed as repositioning Hong Kong as a hub for startups and scale ups. Particular focus on Fintech.
  • Worked closely with the wider Hong Kong SAR Government on initiatives including Fintech.

WELSH DEVELOPMENT AGENCY/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS WALES, UK & USA

Senior Vice President North America
August 2008 - July 2011
Head of Operations, London
May 2005 - July 2008
Business Development Manager
May 2002 - May 2005
Account Manager
April 2001 - May 2002
  • Spent ten years working on all aspects of inward investment from investment origination to investment management to investor aftercare. Led investment attraction missions across the world.
  • Launched a series of ground-breaking strategies to reposition Wales as a services hub with internationally recognised success in the shared services space.
  • Led the engagement and targeting of Whitehall as Wales positioned itself as the natural alternative to London for Government departments and agencies in the wake of the Lyons report – aimed at redistributing government jobs across the UK.
  • Headed up the WDA (later International Business Wales and part of Welsh Government) operations in London and New York City, the latter leading on the targeting of inward investment from across North America – based out of the British Consulate-general offices.

BAHRAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Co-Chief Investment Officer
July 2019 - January 2021
Executive Director
June 2016 - June 2019
  • Delivered a series of record breaking years for the Kingdom from 2017-20 in terms of investment attraction and high value jobs created.
  • Headed the EDBs work with Financial Services including Fintech, Technology & Innovation and the StartUp eco-system.
  • Launched Bahrain Fintech Bay in 2018 and Board Member through to 2021, putting Bahrain on the global map for innovation in finance.
  • Led the EDB’s global network of International Offices, including USA, Europe, India and China.

INVEST HONG KONG, UK

Head of Investment Promotion
December 2011 - October 2014
  • Delivered a series of record breaking years from 2012-14 in terms of attracting inward investment to Hong Kong from Europe.
  • Led the promotion of Hong Kong in Europe as business location and gateway to mainland China.
  • Was part of the founding team behind the globally acclaimed StartmeupHK initiative aimed as repositioning Hong Kong as a hub for startups and scale ups. Particular focus on Fintech.
  • Worked closely with the wider Hong Kong SAR Government on initiatives including Fintech.

OXFORD INTELLIGENCE, UK

Commercial Director November
2014 - May 2016
  • Following the acquisition of Oxford Intelligence by Dutch consulting firm Ecorys, led the company’s international outreach in the investment promotion space.
  • Advised and supported Investment Promotion Agencies including Locate Jersey, Leeds City Region, Scottish Enterprise, Invest Northern Ireland and many others.
  • Collaborated with EY on its annual investment attractiveness survey, Oxford Intelligence being the chosen contractor for all data collection.
  • A recognised public speaker, facilitator, trainer and thought leader on inward investment.

WELSH DEVELOPMENT AGENCY/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS WALES, UK & USA

Senior Vice President North America
August 2008 - July 2011
Head of Operations, London
May 2005 - July 2008
Business Development Manager
May 2002 - May 2005
Account Manager
April 2001 - May 2002
  • Spent ten years working on all aspects of inward investment from investment origination to investment management to investor aftercare. Led investment attraction missions across the world.
  • Launched a series of ground-breaking strategies to reposition Wales as a services hub with internationally recognised success in the shared services space.
  • Led the engagement and targeting of Whitehall as Wales positioned itself as the natural alternative to London for Government departments and agencies in the wake of the Lyons report – aimed at redistributing government jobs across the UK.
  • Headed up the WDA (later International Business Wales and part of Welsh Government) operations in London and New York City, the latter leading on the targeting of inward investment from across North America – based out of the British Consulate-general offices.
David Parker Photo

Testimonials