As Interim Principal at alternative providers, he produced a new strategic plan, instigated a complete ‘quality re-set’, led practical governance renewal and managed relationships with regulators.
A university Deputy Vice-Chancellor for five years, his leadership laid the basis for a Times Higher award (‘most improved student experience’) and a Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) commendation (for employability strategy and innovation). In eight years at HE Funding Council (HEFCE) Richard developed policy on teaching funding, undertook strategic reviews and led 14 collaborative national and regional projects across the further and higher education sectors worth £107m. Previously, he worked for a forerunner of AdvanceHE and the Universities of Coventry, Nottingham and Oxford.