Richard Wakeford joined the Scottish Government at the start of 2005 from the Countryside Agency in England where he had been Chief Executive since its creation in 1999. His current job covers Agriculture, Environment, Fisheries, Rural Development and Sustainable Development.

Richard has always worked in government organisations, and has specialised in environment, land use and rural development issues.  He spent some time at the heart of the UK Government – in the Cabinet Office working on Cabinet minutes, economic and environmental affairs.  He was also an appointed member of the UK Sustainable Development Commission.  He is an honorary member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. He has experience in the USA, following a year spent at Princeton University studying development issues. He has also advised the Hungarian government on land use and sustainable development, under the auspices of the Know How Fund.

Richard is the Chair of the OECD’s Rural Working Party and has been involved in rural policy reviews in Scotland, Germany, the Netherlands and China.  Relevant reports can be found on the OECD website – www.oecd.org.