David Punter (born 19 November 1949, in Harrow, London) is Professor of English at the University of Bristol.
Punter's academic career commenced as a senior lecturer at the University of East Anglia.
He left in 1986 to take up the post of Professor of English and Head of Department at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
In 2000 he moved to the University of Bristol, where has been Graduate Dean and Research Director of the Faculty of Arts.
In the role of Orator at the University of Bristol, Punter has delivered eulogies for the honorary degrees conferred on Michael Eavis,[3] Julia Donaldson,[4] and Terry Pratchett.