Richard Risdon is an Executive Board member of Mott MacDonald Group and serves as Managing Director for the UK & Europe of the global engineering, management, and development consultancy. Based in London, Richard leads a diverse portfolio of business units and functional teams spanning transport, water, buildings, energy, and environment, as well as finance, digital, people, and technical excellence.

Appointed to this role in August 2022, Richard brings extensive experience in strategic leadership, operational delivery, and cross-sector collaboration. His remit includes driving regional performance, fostering innovation, and ensuring alignment with global priorities.

A passionate advocate for skills development, Richard champions a proactive and strategic approach to building future talent pipelines. He believes in forecasting industry needs and preparing the workforce ahead of emerging challenges, stating: “We shouldn’t wait for skills shortages or challenges and then build our response; we should forecast our needs and build our talent pipeline for the future – as businesses, as a sector and as a country.”

Richard actively supports apprentice, graduate, and personal development programmes, recognising their critical role in shaping the next generation of professionals and leaders.

He is also a strong proponent of inclusive leadership and workplace wellbeing. He has led initiatives that support LGBTQ+ colleagues and promote a culture of respect, openness, and belonging. His leadership style is grounded in accountability, transparency, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

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