Dave Neita, founder and director of ELECT, is a barrister and published poet.

David Neita

Dave Neita is regarded as the People's Lawyer and the People's Poet due to his representation of excluded individuals and marginalized groups and because of his grassroots treatment of social issues in his poetry.

A qualified and experienced professional Dave has a special expertise in public speaking and group facilitation. Working with a wide range of groups Dave helps individuals and groups to discover their passion and direction through prose and poetry. Dave has been working in the local London community and he has a strong background in working with pupils with the aim of building confidence, raising achievement and developing leadership.

Dave also runs a project that employs poetry as a vehicle for expression for users and carers within mental health services. This project also assists users to draft parliamentary questions to the executive of the government, which expresses their political concerns. He has been featured in MENTAL HEALTH TODAY for his work in Creative Psychiatric Care.

Called to the Bar of England & Wales in 2000, Dave was a member of the legal team, which brought the largest group action claim in the UK on behalf of thousands of South African asbestos miners. Dave has also represented many youngsters excluded from school and he the last lawyer to Milton Hanson (deceased), the outspoken Nurse who confronted and fought against racism in the NHS. In 2000 he became a member of the legal team, which brought the largest group action claim in the UK on behalf of thousands of South African asbestos miners.

Although his work as a barrister and poetry takes up much of his time Dave also volunteers his time in the community and the Mayor of London has highlighted him for making an outstanding contribution to life in London.

Dave is the author of the Ultimate Love Collection of Love Poems PURE (Passionate Unadulterated Romantic Expressions), the sizzling spoken word album. He has also written the book Manuscript Of A Scripture Man, and made Ben Okri's Mental Fight: Harmony of Politics and Heart into a film. His spoken word CD's also includes The Lie Centenary…The Truth Will Set You Free and New School Nursery Rhymes (An album for youngsters and the parents/cares who love them)