Richard de Rivaz was born in 1946 and has had a long career in industry, having gained an Industrial Engineering and Management degree at Loughborough University of Technology. He has a Diploma in Industrial Studies and is a member of the Chartered Management Institute.

Richard's early career was spent in the Dairy Industry in a number of managerial roles for Unigate, Cliffords Dairies and Woodgate Farms Dairy, where he served as Production Director for seven years. He also gained experience with Dairy Companies in the USA with Sealtest and HP Hood. In these companies he carried out a number of work study projects.

In 1986 he left the dairy industry to move full time to MDR Interfaces Ltd, a company formed to provide industrial computer software and electronic control systems. Various projects were undertaken including the supply of telesales software for a large dairy company, automated packaging lines for the dairy industry, control systems for electric vehicles and wind power. More recently the firm has concentrated on bespoke software and interactive website design.

Richard is a CEDR Accredited Mediator and is a Designated Member of Specialist Mediators LLP. He became interested in mediation having successfully used mediation to resolve one particular dispute. Through his work he has become familiar with contractual and intellectual property matters, as well as the legal process.

Richard also has first hand experience of property disputes, boundaries and drainage matters. He now regularly mediates in these kinds of dispute and Parties, who unfortunately find themselves in such circumstances, have found that Richard can readily empathise with them and understand their feelings.

His interests include sailing, music and skiing.