Richard is currently a member of the ILO Governing Body. Richard is also a co-chair of the New Zealand Tripartite Future of Work Group.

Richard began working as a full time paid union official in 1988 as a researcher. Later he became an organiser, working in Auckland in the health and disability sectors.

In 1997 Richard was appointed as PSA National Operations manager, responsible for PSA members throughout the country in the health and community sectors.  He then took up the position as a National Secretary of the PSA in 2000 which he held until becoming CTU President in 2015. The PSA is New Zealand’s largest trade union and as national secretary Richard was responsible for overseeing the implementation of the PSA’s industrial and political strategies.