Secretary of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

Deep Conversation:
‘Education: Learning to embrace the future’ (November 27, 12.00-2.00pm)

Presentation:
Why many shades of grey matters: thinking and learning for tomorrow’s challenges (November 28, 9.30am)

Richard has had a diverse career in the Victorian public service, a statutory utility regulator, the Australian Senate, public advocacy organisations, and the former State Electricity Commission of Victoria.

Richard has had extensive experience in responding to complex public policy challenges in a range of fields through the integrated application of various disciplines, tools and processes.  These include:

• Raising the sustainability of energy supply and use through technology innovation programs and market measures.
• Improving the quality, affordability and equity of energy supply through innovative market and regulatory design.
• Raising agricultural productivity through science, innovation and policy reform.
• Improving school performance, reforming Victoria’s vocational education sector and developing options and lifting educational gains from early childhood services.
• Strengthening the security of Melbourne’s public transport system.

Richard has also led or helped lead responses to many emergencies, including energy shortages, animal and plant diseases, agricultural pest incursions, the impact of bushfire and flood on regional communities, and open-cut mine collapses.

Richard holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Australia, a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from Monash University, and a Graduate Diploma in Company Directorship.

Richard has served on the High Level Consultative Committee on the Energy White Paper, and the Boards of the Australian Centre for Renewable Energy, the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership, and Schools Connect Australia.  He is also Chair of the Victorian Government’s Regional Management Forum for the Grampians region.