Richards, Robert W.
Director of Dubai Men’s College
Dr. Richards is a Senior Director (equivalent to Deputy Vice-Chancellor) of the
Higher Colleges of Technology, and President of Dubai Men’s College. Dubai
Men’s College, the largest college of the HCT system, is celebrating its 20th
anniversary. The college has a network of 4000 alumni, most of whom now hold
chief executive responsibilities in the public and private sector of the United Arab
Emirates and GCC region.
Dr. Richards was, from 2004 to 2008, Chief Executive Officer of the CERT Group of Companies in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. CERT is the research and technology commercialization arm of the Higher Colleges of Technology. During Bob’s tenure CERT received securities and ministry approval to launch the first education and technology based IPO in the Middle East. In addition to a
distinguished career in education as a university professor and executive, Dr. Richards is Founder and/or Co-Founder of five Canadian Companies, including one of Canada’s largest private colleges. For his work in business development in Newfoundland Dr. Richards was awarded the 1994 Entrepreneur of the Year
Award and was an Invited member of the Prime Minister of Canada’s “Team Canada” International Trade Delegation in 1998.
From 1999 to 2004 Bob was Executive Director and CEO of the Gardiner Institute for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship and NexInnovations Chair in Technology and Entrepreneurship at Memorial University in Canada. Dr. Richards was co-appointed by the faculties of Medicine, Science, Engineering and Business. This Canada Research Chair was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), and is the only chair of its kind in the nation. In this capacity he led the successful launch and commercialization of 15 technology companies arising from discoveries in medicine, science and engineering.
Bob has served in a number of key public leadership positions including as a Governor of the Atlantic Canada Economic Council and Chairman of Athlete’s Village for the 1999 Canada Games.
Bob’s speeches and papers have been featured at more than 200 events since 1990. He is considered to be a thought leader in the human and education issues arising from technology and change. On four occasions excerpts from Dr. Richards’ presentations have been aired on the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation’s popular international radio show “As It Happens”, during their “For the Record” segment.
Dr. Richards holds a PhD in Educational Leadership from Brigham Young University, USA, a Master’s Degree in Education Administration and a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education degree from Memorial University, Canada.
- Education, Leadership and Return on Investment: The United Arab Emirates Experience - Opening Plenary
Sunday, June 21, 2009 at 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
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