David Hegarty is a Visiting Fellow at the Department of Pacific Affair (DPA), College of Asia-Pacific, ANU. He was formerly Convenor and Senior Fellow of the DPA research and outreach Program from 1998-2008. His earlier academic appointments include: Senior Research Fellow, Strategic & Defence Studies Centre RSPAS, ANU, 1985-88; and Lecturer (then) Senior Lecturer and Chairman, Department of Political & Administrative Studies, University of Papua New Guinea, 1970-82.

Following his retirement from DPA in December 2008, he became academic director and Associate Professor of the Pacific Executive Program, ANZ School of Government, through 2010-11. He also has had extensive experience in the Australian government having served as Australian High Commissioner to Samoa (1995-98); as an advisor to a former Minister for Trade & Development Cooperation; and having held advisory and policy positions within the Australian Departments of Prime Minister & Cabinet and of Foreign Affairs & Trade. He has been a Vice-President of the Pacific Islands Political Studies Association since 2004.