CEO, Global Spatial Technology Solutions (GSTS)
Richard has 35 years of experience in the space, defence and maritime sectors as an engineer, naval officer and business leader.
Upon completion of his Engineering Degree at the University of Alberta, Richard enrolled in the Royal Canadian Navy as a Combat Systems Engineer. He served in several positions on destroyers at sea and ashore. Richard completed his master’s degree in Guided Weapon Systems at the UK Royal Military College of Science, Cranfield University before assuming the position of Above Water Warfare Technical Authority for the Canadian Fleet.
Upon departing the Navy, Richard joined COM DEV, a Canadian Space Technology company where he led initiatives related to satellite communications, as well as Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance programs. In 2008, in response to US and Canadian requirements post 9/11, Richard assembled a team which designed, built, launched and operated the world’s first dedicated global maritime monitoring satellites. This subsequently led to the world's first commercial maritime monitoring satellite data service provider, exactEarth.
Richard was then engaged by CAE to support their expansion into naval markets. He led the successful capture of a major international naval training and simulation opportunity in the Middle East and subsequently led CAE’s global naval training and simulation business build up.
In 2018, Richard established GSTS to develop new solutions for the maritime and logistics sector enabled by rapid advances in satellite, sensor and Artificial Intelligence technologies. GSTS is proudly developing and demonstrating the world's first collaborative berth schedule management system harnessing the full capability of the OCIANA platform which has been developed by GSTS to reduce emissions, manage risk and improve operational efficiencies.