An independent, progressive,  external point of view can bring new thinking to teams, Boards or larger groups. Whether it’s about art, business, policy or practice, new thinking creates curiosity about established practices and challenges. Indeed, new thinking helps determine what the real challenges are.

However, thinking alone will not solve problems – ideas need to be applied and solutions need to be practical and sustainable.

Rick has an innate ability to critically assess environments, connect the dots, and identify real pathways to better outcomes. Bringing this facility into your environment can revitalise and expand opportunities to  create renewal.

Combining his creativity with models from multiple business schools, Rick is recognised for his strategic planning ability. Whether trying to ascertain immediate strategic priorities or develop a comprehensive, consultative long-form strategic plan, Rick can tailor his methodology to suit your desired outcomes and budget.

Whether a deep dive into  stakeholders and environments for a major organisation or government agency, or a concise short-form plan for small entities, Rick can provide business planning solutions that are ambitious and realistic His business planning skills are particularly suited to entities that prioritise social impact and sustainability.

Balancing economic and social imperatives makes for challenging decision-making. Rick works with Localise Director Alison Dalziel to create cultural plans that meet local government objectives and align with a creative community’s needs. 

Rick has undertaken complex community consultation in many contexts – his statewide work on a 5-year touring strategy for WA resulted in a transformational approaches in government, government agencies, on-the-ground practice and for end-users.

Getting to the essence of core issues in a creative and effective manner is one of Rick’s core competencies, whether with a Board of management, a group of employees or a sector. Even amongst disparate interests Rick facilitates successful outcomes in a manner that is inclusive, creative and realistic.

Rick has sat on, or worked with, not-for-profit Boards of Management for the vast majority of his career. His insights into effective governance have been developed from both sides of the Board table. Fostering effective Board practice is something Rick is passionate about. Rick uses a simple, effective tool for Board Auditing that provides the necessary insight to enable rigorous and authentic facilitated discussion, and that achieves practical outcomes.

With 35 years’ experience across management, leadership, advocacy, relationship and project management, Rick has a highly developed ability to support effective decision-making and strategy development. If you feel you could benefit from assistance with decision-making, learning or simply general guidance, mentoring may be a great option.

With qualifications in Business and the Arts, and having experience across many areas of the Arts industry (at different scales of operation and with local, state and federal government) Rick possesses a unique ability to quickly assess and determine priorities, and provide leadership and management skills with little direct oversight.

Over his career, Rick has secured millions of dollars in grant investments, successful bid for national and international conferences, and obtained philanthropic and corporate support. He has achieved this through his extensive network and astute ability to build relationships and communicate persuasively.

Rick can provide written business cases, grant submissions, sponsorship or philanthropic proposals, and professional report writing.

With specific marketing qualifications and experience, Rick can also provide copy-writing services.

Rick has vast experience in project and event management from large scale operations at the Sydney Opera House to national conferences and trade shows, to national performing arts tours and management of major community research and strategy projects.

Rick has over 30 years of producing, presenting and programming experience.

Rick is an industry leader in the strategic development of performing arts touring. He has spent years on the road, and has applied this experience to touring design and policy development.

Rick has produced shows from the ground up as an independent producer. As Executive Producer, General Manager and CEO of festivals and performing arts companies he has led teams to deliver major productions.