| Richard was born in Orbost,
Victoria, in 1963. |
| Educated at Beechworth
Primary School and, on finishing Year 12 at Macleod High School,
commenced his career as a Police Constable at a variety of locations.
Richard was promoted to the rank of Senior Police Detective
where he worked with the Fraud Squad, Asset Recovery Squad,
Major Fraud Group and the National Crime Authority. |
| Between 1995 and 2002,
Richard was: |
- Manager at Woolworths Limited
- General Manager for a national food manufacturer
- Group Manager for a large disability service
- State Regional Manager for a US multi-national company
|
| Richard has a Master
of Business Administration (MBA). |
| Liberal Party positions
have included: |
- Chairman, East Yarra Province Electorate Council
- Policy Assembly Delegate, elected via State Council
- Member, Central Branch Development Committee
- Member, Italian Liberals' Association
|
| Some of Richard's memberships
and interests include: |
- Essendon Football Club
- Melbourne Cricket Club
- Former Vice President - Kindergarten Parents' Victoria
Inc
- Liberal Party of Australia
- Australia Day Council (Victoria) Inc
- The 500 Club
- Veneto Club Melbourne
- Kooyong 200 Club
|
| Elected in November 2002, Richard was appointed Liberal Spokesperson for Corrections and then given the additional portfolio of Scrutiny of Government. From December 2005, Richard has held various Shadow Ministerial roles, including Manufacturing and Export, Community Development, Innovation, Scrutiny of Government, Freedom of Information, Industry & State Development and Major Projects. From December 2010 Richard was appointed Minister for Employment & Industrial Relations and Minister for Manufacturing, Exports and Trade. |
| Richard was Team Leader for the Eastern Metropolitan Region in 2006 and 2010. |
| Richard was a member of the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee and Deputy Chair of the Legislative Council Standing Orders Committee. |
|
Richard was also the Liberal Party's representative on the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) for the period 24 September 2007 - 23 September 2010, a statutory authority with an independent chair and board of governance with vast experience in health, sport, the arts, research and communication, working in partnership with organisations, communities and individuals to promote good health and prevent ill-health.
|