Richard is Professor of Clinical Trials at Cardiff University and holds several leadership roles in cancer research and clinical practice. He is Lead for the Wales Tackling Cancer Through Research Initiative, Clinical Director of the Centre for Trials Research (CTR)—a large UKCRC-accredited Clinical Trials Unit—Clinical Director of the Wales Cancer Biobank, and Honorary Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Velindre Cancer Centre and Cardiff & Vales University Health Baord. Through the Tackling Cancer Through Research Initiative, Richard works across health boards, trusts, and disciplines to foster a vibrant culture of clinical research engagement and delivery, with the aim of improving cancer care in Wales. As Clinical Director of the CTR, he leads a team of 160 staff delivering studies and trials both in the UK and internationally, in close collaboration with the NHS, industry, and academic partners. The CTR’s work spans four divisions: Cancer, Infections/Inflammatory/Immunological Disorders (3Is), Population Health, and Brain Health. Richard’s clinical practice and research focus on lower gastrointestinal cancers. He chairs the British Colorectal Oncology Group and represents both this group and Wales on the United Kingdom Collaboration on Cancer Clinical Research (UK3CR). He is actively involved in national and international organisations, including the International Rare Cancer Initiative (IRCI, for anal cancer), the ARCAD Foundation executive, and the European Gastro-Intestinal Cancer Collaboration (ENGIC). As Chief Investigator on multiple lower gastrointestinal cancer trials, Richard is a strong advocate for nurturing future academics within the NHS and universities, mentoring numerous early-career researchers. He oversees collaborative translational research in phase II and III colorectal cancer studies and supervises PhD students across disciplines, including engineering, to drive innovation and unlock new approaches in cancer care. An academic clinician committed to innovation, Richard champions the rapid implementation of best practice informed by research within the NHS. He serves on the executive of the UK Oncology Forum, helping grow this national free educational conference year on year, providing updates on best practice and challenging perceptions in cancer research and care. Richard also has a keen interest in global health, shaped by his cancer work in Uganda and Sierra Leone, and is a strong advocate for inclusivity in research and healthcare.