David George Stead (6 March 1877 – 2 August 1957) was an Australian marine biologist, ichthyologist, oceanographer, conservationist and writer.

In 1909 he was a founder of, and during its early years the main driving force behind, the Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia.

In December 1912 he became an inaugural committee member of the Eugenics Society of New South Wales.

He served as the Australian representative on international committees concerned with fisheries science, marine biology and oceanography.

[2][3] Sam in The Man Who Loved Children by Christina Stead is partly modelled on her father.