Richard J. O'B. Perry
Abu Dhabi
Summary
Accomplished environmental leader with30+ years of global experience in strategic environmental management, policy advisory, and scientific leadership. Proven ability to advise senior government officials, manage large multidisciplinary teams, and multi-million-pound budgets. Expertise in sound evidence-based policymaking, biodiversity conservation, and climate strategies.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
ADVISER
Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, UAE
01.2014 - Current
- Chaired Research Committee for10+ years, ensuring scientific quality of over200 technical reports, and fostering research collaborations
- Chaired Socio-technical committee for World Environmental Education Congress2024
- Establishing Regional Centre of Excellence for Education for Sustainable Development
- Directed the State of Environment Report (2017 and2023)
- Currently working with team to semi-automate SoE reporting process using AI
- Led Internal Audit in addition to regular duties, acted as Head of Internal Audit for two years, overseeing Agency's risk management and reporting to Board
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, UAE
01.2012 - 01.2014
- Served on the Executive Management Team, providing strategic leadership across the agency
- Established the Environmental Information, Science & Outreach Management sector, boosting capability and cross-functional integration
- Successfully transitioned to an advisory role following the Emiratisation programme
PROGRAMME MANAGER
Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, UAE
01.2010 - 01.2012
- Successfully created Abu Dhabi Emirate’s environmental sustainability strategy ‘Environment Vision2030’, developing, a comprehensive strategy with100+ KPI framework for improving environmental performance that also meets economic and social aspirations
Environment and Sustainability Manager
Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company—Masdar City
01.2008 - 01.2010
Senior Environmental Adviser
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)
01.2006 - 01.2008
Biodiversity Manager
Mallee Catchment Management Authority (MCMA)
01.2004 - 01.2006
Head of Environmental Services
Envtl. Research & Wildlife Development Agency
01.1999 - 01.2004
Project Manager DGXI Life Project Cybestuaries
Les ESTURIALES (City of Sunderland)
01.1996 - 01.1999
Senior Environmental Consultant
L.G. Mouchel & Partners Ltd.
01.1993 - 01.1996
Senior Environmental Consultant
David Bellamy Associates
01.1991 - 01.1993
Education
PhD - Ecology
University of Sunderland
UKBSc. (Hons) - Zoology
Newcastle University
UKSkills
- Leadership, mentoring, stakeholder engagement, auditing, project management, strategy development
- Software: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, ESRI ARCGIS, Obsidian, Photoshop
Certification
- Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) -2023
- Fellow of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (FIEMA) -2020
- Project Management Principles (PMP) -2002
- Lead Envtl Mgt System (ISO Auditor), IRCA -2001
Affiliations
- Board Member, Advisory Board with Abu Dhabi University, Khalifa University, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, and Mubadala Arabian Center for Climate and Environmental Sciences (ACCESS) at New York University Abu Dhabi.
- Visiting Lecturer, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi (Social Adaptation to Climate Change).
Publications
For list of publications see https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1279-3872
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Strategic Leadership — Led interdisciplinary environmental and scientific programmes.
- Policy Advisory — Provided advisory support to20+ senior government officials on policy environmental strategies.
- Scientific Governance — Oversaw scientific integrity, quality, and analytical frameworks.
- Stakeholder Engagement — Built partnerships with national and international stakeholders.
- Programme Management — Oversaw diverse portfolio and multi-million-pound budgets.
- Crisis Management — Directed emergency responses, including oil spill incidents.
Timeline
ADVISER
Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, UAE
01.2014 - Current
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, UAE
01.2012 - 01.2014
PROGRAMME MANAGER
Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, UAE
01.2010 - 01.2012
Environment and Sustainability Manager
Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company—Masdar City
01.2008 - 01.2010
Senior Environmental Adviser
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)
01.2006 - 01.2008
Biodiversity Manager
Mallee Catchment Management Authority (MCMA)
01.2004 - 01.2006
Head of Environmental Services
Envtl. Research & Wildlife Development Agency
01.1999 - 01.2004
Project Manager DGXI Life Project Cybestuaries
Les ESTURIALES (City of Sunderland)
01.1996 - 01.1999
Senior Environmental Consultant
L.G. Mouchel & Partners Ltd.
01.1993 - 01.1996
Senior Environmental Consultant
David Bellamy Associates
01.1991 - 01.1993
- Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) -2023
- Fellow of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (FIEMA) -2020
- Project Management Principles (PMP) -2002
- Lead Envtl Mgt System (ISO Auditor), IRCA -2001
PhD - Ecology
University of Sunderland
BSc. (Hons) - Zoology
Newcastle University
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