In 2012, David Watters was elected chair of the Professional Development and Standards Board. David Watters is the author/editor of five textbooks relating to surgical practice in the tropics. His publication record includes over 100 peer reviewed articles and book chapters covering a wide range of subjects such as surgical training, surgical audit, trauma, peritonitis, critical care, gastrointestinal disorders, colorectal surgery, tropical diseases and HIV infection. He was RACS Director for the Pacific Islands Project (2002-2012) and the Papua New Guinea Tertiary Health Services Projects (2002-2010). He was external examiner in Surgery at the Fiji School of Medicine from 1999-2001 and 2009-2011. He has also, for short periods, been resident surgeon in Dili, East Timor.