Richard is a forrner Chief Engineer (Class I unlimited) with Shell and BP. He graduated with a Higher National Diploma in Marine Engineering in 1986 and a Bachelor Honours Degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering in 1994. He is a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Marine Engineer, since 1997, with a Class I (unlimited) Certificate of Competency for motor and steam propulsion.

He has thirty years of experience as a serving Marine Engineer on oil and gas tankers, specializing in LNG cargo systems and steam turbine & diesel-electric propulsion plants. He gained experience in LNG Projects, Electrical and Instrumentation Superintendent positions with Shell, as well as Resident Engineer management of FPSO new-build projects. He has also worked as Electronics Engineer in the shore-based electronics and industrial automation industry.

With former experience as an Independent Marine Surveyor, based in Thailand, from 2013, he carried out hull and machinery incident investigations for P&I clubs as well as acting as General Average Surveyor on a major cargo claim 

He worked for seven years in Singapore as Marine Engineering Consultant/Surveyor for London Offshore Consultants and as Regional Manager & Principal Surveyor for MARE Marine Experts.

Since 2023 he has been heading his own company (Nova Marine Consultants, Thailand) specializing as consulting expert for marine legal cases with experience as Expert Witness (Singapore Supreme Court), as well as casualty and risk assessment consultation & survey work.