Richard has been a journalist and editor covering climate change, energy and sustainability for almost 20 years. He has been a senior associate at the European Climate Foundation, a research fellow and editor at disruptive technology think tank Rethink X, and an editor and journalist for the BBC and FT Group.

In a world where jargon, buzzwords and technobabble abound, he believes passionately in the power of plain English, in explaining things clearly and succinctly so the key point is never lost. He also cares deeply about climate change and the natural world.

As an experienced journalist and editor, he understands how mainstream and social media work, and how good intentions can so easily be misdirected and misunderstood.

He also loves sport. Whether playing, watching or discussing, it has captivated him since childhood.

Childhood sporting heroes:
Seve Ballesteros, John Barnes, Boris Becker, Steve Davis, Steffi Graf, Carl Lewis, Diego Maradona, John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Ayrton Senna, Daly Thompson, Fatima Whitbread.

Greatest sporting achievement:
Two matches away from qualifying for Wimbledon (aged 13 in the IAPS prep school tournament).

Potted CV:

Most recently, Richard worked as a senior associate for the European Climate Foundation, overseeing all the outputs of an international team of researchers providing insights and analysis about climate change and the energy transition. He also helped set up Zero Carbon Analytics, an independent research group to further promote the team’s work.

Before that, he worked for the disruptive technology think tank RethinkX as editor and research fellow, overseeing all editorial output including the influential report Rethinking Food and Agriculture 2020-2030.

Richard previously worked for almost a decade as a writer and editor for the BBC News website, specialising in energy and sustainability, setting up the corporation’s online energy coverage and writing more than 100 features and countless news stories on the subjects. He also appeared on various BBC radio programmes and the World Service.

Prior to that he was editor of Green Business magazine and assistant editor of Investor’s Chronicle, the UK’s leading retail finance magazine, where he also co-presented the Financial Times Money podcast.

In a previous life, Richard co-owned and ran an award-winning bar restaurant in South East London.