David Ahern was born, raised and educated in Adelaide, Australia. His first job was at the Adelaide News, a daily newspaper, where he spent eight years as a journalist including two years as the paper’s Melbourne correspondent. He then became a news broadcaster on Melbourne radio. A series of jobs followed in government, the public service and in education, writing and editing various publications. He has two adult children and is a supporter of the Adelaide Crows Football Club in the Australian Football League.