Elected in November 2015 and re-elected in November 2018 and November 2021, Richard is Chair of the Board and also Chair of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.

Richard is a consultant to Sparke Helmore Lawyers and a past President of Business Hunter (2011 - 2014). He is a Conjoint Professor of Practice in the School of Law at the University of Newcastle.

Richard is Chair of Healthy Communities Foundation Australia Ltd and Chair of the committee for the Hunter.

In 2018, Richard was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the community of the Hunter, to business development and medical research and to the law.