Dr Richard Jackson holds a BA and DPhil in Geography from the University of Oxford. He held academic positions at Oxford, Makerere University (Uganda), the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG), and James Cook University.
During his tenure at UPNG, Richard co-led the first socio-economic impact study of a mining project in PNG for the Ok Tedi mine in 1976, laying the foundation for his subsequent involvement in nearly all major mining projects in the country. Since 1997, Richard has worked as an independent consultant on mining and resource development projects worldwide, with a particular focus on PNG, Southeast Asia, and the South Pacific. He has also contributed to closure plans for numerous Rio Tinto sites.
Richard's extensive portfolio includes developing in-migration strategies for the Frieda River project and preparing plans for the Woodlark Mine in PNG, as well as contributing to the establishment of the Martabe mine in Indonesia and gas pipelines in PNG. His work also encompasses electricity power line projects in Laos and Vietnam, as well as addressing social issues at the Didipio and Tampakan projects in the Philippines. Additionally, he has reviewed community affairs practices for Phu Bia Mining in Lao PDR, conducted surveys of landowner businesses at resource projects across PNG, and assisted in preparing for a proposed gold mine in El Salvador.