Veolia ANZ welcomes Richard Kirkman as Managing Director and CEO.
Since joining the Group via Dalkia as an environmental engineer in 1994, Richard has helped position Veolia at the forefront of technology and innovation and delivered the infrastructure to enable its expansion within the resource management sector.
After setting up Dalkia's research activity in the Nordics in the late 1990s, he has held a number of senior Veolia commercial, operational and technical positions including Technical Director and Head of Technology. Since 2015 he has held the role of Chief Technical and Innovation Officer for the United Kingdom and Ireland and his extensive remit within that role included Material & Energy Sales, Planning, Construction, Fleet and External Affairs, as well as operating Energy Recovery Facilities(ERF) and recycling facilities.
Richard’s leadership style empowers employees to think creatively, deliver innovation and be passionate advocates for improving access to, preserving and replenishing resources. His recent steerage of the COVID-19 Special Operations Team within the UK exemplifies the essential nature of the work Veolia employees do, providing uninterrupted waste, water and energy services in the midst of a global pandemic.
Richard’s focus in the Australian and New Zealand region will be to achieve Veolia’s Impact ANZ 2023 strategic ambitions; pivoting the organisation to be a trusted partner for complex infrastructure solutions and influencing policy as an authoritative voice on challenges our region faces across water, waste, and energy. Richard has a depth of experience in this area, having been a founding member of The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Council for Sustainable Business; a member of Board of the UK Plastics Pact; and as a Commissioner for the Green Innovation Policy Commission.
Richard believes that delivering a sustainable future is about people, customers and teams working together to be successful.