David Kent reflects warmly on his time at Tudor House, a place that left a lasting mark on his life and character. His friendships from those years have endured for over half a century, a testament to the bonds forged during his formative years. David’s connection to the School is generational, his father was also an Old Tudorian and served as School Captain in 1939.
His memories of boarding life are filled with colour: playing Cocky Laura, competing in the tennis championship, swimming laps to earn house points, and weekend bike rides to Bundanoon.
After graduating from The King’s School, David went on to study Arts/Law at the University of Sydney, earning First Class Honours in History. His career has spanned continents and disciplines. He lived and worked in Sydney, Melbourne, New York and London as a banker and later served as a diplomat in Paris and Washington DC.
David’s banking career culminated in his role as Managing Director and Country Head of Morgan Stanley Australia, which he held until late 1999. In 2000, he was appointed Australia’s Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner to Paris and later to Washington DC. In the years since, he has remained active in funds management, consultancy and as a non-executive director.
In recognition of his international service, David was appointed Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur by the French Government in 2019 and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2022.
Now retired, David divides his time between Sydney and Robertson, not far from his early school roots. He continues to travel widely, plays golf and tennis, enjoys hiking in remote corners of the world and maintains a strong interest in the visual arts.
David is married to Angela, an architect, and together they have two daughters, Sophie and Eloise. With two grandsons, Hamish and Arthur. David hopes that “Chewed up Mouse” (as he affectionately calls Tudor House) might one day feature in their future, too, though he concedes that will be a decision for their parents.