Dr David Foster OBE, chair of the Foundation of Nursing Studies, is a registered nurse and midwife. 

A former Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for the Department of Health, David is also a visiting professor at Buckinghamshire New University, King’s College, London and Manchester Metropolitan University.  He has a PhD, an honorary doctorate from Middlesex University and is a member of the Court of London South Bank University. He has Lifetime Achievement Awards from the British Journal of Midwifery and the Four UK Chief Nursing Officers and is also an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Midwives and a Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing.

David trained in nursing at Middlesex Hospital, London and in midwifery at Falkirk and Stirling Royal Infirmaries and ended his NHS career as Director of Nursing at Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust.

He was awarded an OBE for services to nursing and midwifery in 2018.