Richard Burge

Richard David Arthur Burge (born 5 April 1958) is an independent adviser on international trade, and organisational management and leadership. He is the founder and co-director of ESG Validation Ltd.

Early life and education

Burge was born in Hong Kong.^[1] His father Arthur Vincent Burge was a serving officer with the Royal Engineers, and his mother was Elsie (Rae) Burge (née Kimberley).^{[citation needed]}

After primary school in Cardiff and north London (where his father was posted), he went in 1969 to Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School in Newport, Shropshire.^[2] Burge went to Hatfield College, Durham University from 1977 to 1980, the first member of his family to go to university.^[2]

Career

Burge taught biology at King Edward's School, Witley (1980–83) and then went to Sri Lanka as a Commonwealth Scholar until 1986.^[2]

Burge joined the British Council in June 1986 where he served in the Overseas Career Service for ten years. He was Assistant Representative in Lagos, Nigeria until March 1990,^[3] then had a series of posts in the UK ending up as Head of Africa and Middle East Operations for three years until September 1995.^[4]

Senior appointments

Burge was the first Director General of the Zoological Society of London from 1995 to 1999. He was noted by journalists and the government of London as being responsible for saving the London Zoo from bankruptcy during his time as Director General.^[5] He then was given the position of chief executive of the Countryside Alliance under the chairmanship of John Jackson until 2003.^[6]^[7] He then spent some time in private business working until being appointed as chief executive of Wilton Park (an FCDO executive agency) from 2009 to 2017. He was then chief executive of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council until 2019. He was chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 2020 to 2023.^[8]

Private sector

From 2003 to 2009, Burge had a portfolio of part-time paid appointments. He was Strategy Director for the African Parks Foundation^[9] and a Commissioner for Rural Communities.^[10] He is the founding partner of ESG Validation.^[11]

Non-profit and charity work

Burge has served as a trustee and board member of a number of charities and not-for-profit organizations including the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development, the Association of Chief Executives in the Voluntary Sector (ACEVO), The Association of Chief Executives (of government executive agencies), the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, the Council of Durham University (including chair of the University Ethics Committee, Vice Chair of Bridewell Royal Hospital (King Edward's School, Witley), a Commissioner for Commonwealth Scholarships, trustee of the Television Trust for the Environment, and chair of the Global Health Assurance Partnership (based in Geneva), and treasurer of St John-at-Hackney in London.^{[citation needed]}

He is currently Junior Warden of the Worshipful Company of World Traders, and has been chair of Council at Hatfield College Durham University for 13 years. He is Churchwarden of the Parish of Kirdford with Plaistow and Ifold in West Sussex.^{[citation needed]}

Political career

Burge is a member of the Labour Party.^[12]

On 24 March 2022 he stood unsuccessfully for election as a Common Councillor for Vintry ward in the City of London.^[13]

On 28 May 2024 Burge was one of 120 business leaders who signed a letter expressing support for the Labour Party in the 2024 United Kingdom general election.^[14]

Personal life

He has been married to Karen Jayne Burge (née Bush) since 1980, having met when they were at school. They live in West Sussex and have two children.

References

^ MacMath, Terence Handley (3 March 2010). "Interview: Richard Burge, chief executive, Wilton Park". Church Times. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c "CEO Appointment For ON Richard Burge". adamsgs.uk. Haberdashers' Adams. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
^ Wyatt P (20 January 2001). "Gone to Claridge's". The Spectator. 286 (8998): 16–17 – via ProQuest.
^ Smith, Michael (31 January 1992). "The problems of selling culture for hard cash: The British Council is "going commercial" to fund its overseas operations". The Daily Telegraph – via ProQuest.
^ Gruner, Peter (8 December 1998). "RSPCA anger as zoo chief takes hunt lobby post". Evening Standard – via ProQuest.
^ Pincher HC (February 1999). "Richard Burge: Though not a participant in field sports himself, the new chief executive of the Countryside Alliance certainly understands them". The Field. 293 (7135): 24–25 – via ProQuest.
^ Clover, Charles (3 December 1998). "Charles Clover talks to the new leader of the Countryside Alliance". The Daily Telegraph – via ProQuest.
^ Watkins, James (6 October 2023). "LCCI Leadership Transition" (Press release). London, United Kingdom: London Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
^ Johnson, Tim (15 May 2005). "Out of Africa". The Burlington Free Press – via ProQuest.
^ McKie, Robin (21 March 2007). "Rural communities: Can bio-fuels transform the rural economy?". The Guardian.
^ Manders, Shannon (25 September 2019). "New independent ESG assessment organisation enters market". Global Trade Review. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
^ Perrone, Jane (20 September 2002). "The Countryside Alliance". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
^ "City of London Election Results". www.cityoflondon.gov.uk. City of London Corporation. 24 March 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
^ Green, Daniel (28 May 2024). "Watch and read Rachel Reeves' speech today – and read full list of 120 business leaders backing Labour". LabourList. Retrieved 29 May 2024.