David J. Carter is a Scientia Associate Professor based in the School of Law, Society and Criminology in the Faculty of Law & Justice at UNSW. He is an Australian lawyer and expert in the field of medical and health law, applying his legal expertise and research to understand law as a factor in the cause, distribution and prevention of disease and injury while advancing the fair treatment of those living with communicable disease.

David currently leads the Health+Law Research Partnership which aims to improve access to justice and quality of life for those living with Hepatitis B or HIV in Australia by removing legal barriers to testing and treatment. David's research is generally socio-legal in nature and often cross-disciplinary, with a particular interest in the points at which the criminal law and public health law intersect with public health practice and health services delivery, including the quality and safety of healthcare.

David came to the academy following a career as an executive in the Australian health sector, where he developed and led private hospitals and rural and remote primary care services. He continues to apply his professional and academic experience as a trusted, and deeply embedded partner with key community, health service and peak bodies in the health and legal sectors. At present, he serves as a board member of the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre, of Quaker Service Australia and is Chair of the Ramsay Health Care Human Research Ethics Committee A.