RADM Richards has served over 35 years in the Royal Australian Navy and has extensive engineering and leadership experience. RADM Richards was the former Head of Nuclear-Powered Submarine Design with the Department of Defence and has a significant understanding of nuclear safety and regulation. She is a member of the Order of Australia (AM) and was recognised with a Conspicuous Service Cross for her time in Command at HMAS CERBERUS in Victoria. She is a Fellow of Engineers Australia.
RADM Richards has a wealth of public sector governance and regulatory expertise. She has been a board member of the Five Eyes Safety Committee, the Air Force Risk Board, the Historical Honours and Awards Board, the Chief of Navy’s Senior Advisory Committee and the Australian War Memorial Council (as the Naval representative for the Chief of Navy). RADM Richards is currently a member of the Radiation Health Council of Australia and the Nuclear Safety Committee of Australia at the invitation of Dr Hirth, the CEO of ARPANSA.
In the last ten years, RADM Richards has served as the Defence Seaworthiness Regulator and the Naval Technical Regulator, where she was accountable for the safety and environmental performance of over a quarter of a million tonnes of military shipping. As the Head of Naval Engineering, she led over 5000 naval engineers and set and oversaw all warship technical standards and policies, as well as the professional performance of all naval public sector and uniform engineers in the Defence portfolio.
RADM Richards holds post graduate qualifications in Nuclear Regulation (ANU), a Master of Science in Marine Engineering (University College, London), a Master of Arts (Deakin) and a Master of Strategic Management (University of Canberra). She has completed the Harvard Kennedy School short course in Public Sector Governance. She graduated as the dux of her Navy Class and with First Class Honours in Mechanical Engineering from the Australian Defence Force Academy (UNSW).
Appointed: 24 March 2025
Term concludes: 23 March 2028