David Cunningham

David Cunningham is the Chief Executive of Kids Operating Room, a global health charity focused on providing safe surgery for children in low-resource settings across 40 countries. Since taking the helm in 2018, David has led the charity in creating annual capacity for almost 200,000 children to access critical surgical care. They strengthen local healthcare systems by installing surgical equipment, training personnel, and deploying solar-powered operating rooms.

David’s extensive experience includes nearly a decade as Chief Executive of The ARCHIE Foundation, a Scottish children’s healthcare charity. A graduate of the University of Dundee, he has been recognised for his work, receiving the 'Transforming Lives Globally' award in 2024. He has also made significant contributions to policy, having led a government review on medical equipment donations during the pandemic and shaped charity fundraising practices as a Board member of the Fundraising Regulator.

Under David’s leadership, KidsOR has delivered 100 paediatric operating rooms worldwide, enabling over 500,000 operations. His innovative approach includes partnerships with NASA and the introduction of solar surgery systems to address power outages in sub-Saharan Africa. David has generated £4 million in revenue, advocating for sustainable, locally-driven healthcare solutions. His leadership continues to save lives and transform healthcare infrastructure.