Don was born in Macclesfield and educated at the Kings School.  He went on to obtain a Bachelors degree in History and Politics and a Masters degree in Modern Social History both from Lancaster University.  Don has subsequently been invited to serve on the Court of the University.

Politically Don has served the Party at all levels.  Starting as Branch Treasurer in Macclesfield, then in Woking as Constituency Treasurer and Constituency Chairman.  This was followed by Treasurer and Chairman positions at Area and Regional levels in the South East.  He established the South East Area Training Team.  In 2000, Don was elected as Vice President of the National Convention and was re-elected for three years.  As President of the National Convention, Don chaired the Party Conference in Blackpool in 2004.  In 2006, he was elected Chairman of the National Convention and became Deputy Chairman of the Party Board.  Don served on the Party Board for nine years until April 2009.

Don started his business career in British Airways.  He worked in the Market Research Department before being appointed to drive forward the major culture change strategy under Colin Marshall.  Following this, he headed up Sales, Marketing and Customer Service Training worldwide for the airline.

Don was headhunted by Lloyds Bank in 1986 to design and implement a worldwide customer service and culture change strategy for the Bank.

In 1988, Don founded his own management consultancy.  MSB is now a leading consultancy in the areas of customer service, culture change and people development with an international ‘blue-chip’ client base.

Don was awarded a CBE in the Queens Birthday Honours in 1996.  He became Honorary Chairman of Conservative Way Forward in July 2009.