David Kirkby is a former resident of Alice Springs who lives in Newcastle. He is a bushwalker, conservationist and lover of Australian landscapes. A poet and short story writer, Kirkby's work has been published in various journals including Overland and Ulitarra. His first collection of poetry, Spinifex, was published in 2001.
Kirkby's experiences during the years 1984-1997, which he spent in the remote Warlpiri Aboriginal community of Lajamanu in the Tanami Desert, are reflected in his poetry.