Richard Burge

{{short description|British former CEO and government official (born 1958)}}

Richard David Arthur Burge (born 5 April 1958) is a British 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.{{cite news |last=MacMath |first=Terence Handley |date=3 March 2010 |title=Interview: Richard Burge, chief executive, Wilton Park |url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2010/5-march/features/interview-richard-burge-chief-executive-wilton-park |work=Church Times |access-date=12 May 2021}} His father Arthur Vincent Burge was a serving officer with the Royal Engineers, and his mother was Elsie (Rae) Burge (née Kimberley).{{fact|date=July 2021}}

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.adamsgs.uk/news/2020-05-01/CEO-appointment-for-ON-Richard-Burge |title=CEO Appointment For ON Richard Burge |author= |date=1 May 2020 |website=adamsgs.uk |publisher=Haberdashers' Adams |access-date=12 May 2021}} Burge went to Hatfield College, Durham University from 1977 to 1980, the first member of his family to go to university.

Career

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

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,{{cite journal |last1=Wyatt |first1=Petronella |date=20 January 2001 |title=Gone to Claridge's |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/201224758 |journal=The Spectator |volume=286 |issue=8998 |pages=16–17 |id={{ProQuest|201224758}} |name-list-style=vanc}} 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.{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Michael |date=31 January 1992 |title=The problems of selling culture for hard cash: The British Council is "going commercial" to fund its overseas operations |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/317043535 |work=The Daily Telegraph |id={{ProQuest|317703535}}}}

=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.{{cite news |last=Gruner |first=Peter |date=8 December 1998 |title=RSPCA anger as zoo chief takes hunt lobby post |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/329268325 |work=Evening Standard |id={{ProQuest|329268325}}}} He then was given the position of chief executive of the Countryside Alliance under the chairmanship of John Jackson until 2003.{{cite journal |last1=Pincher |first1=Harry Chapman |date=February 1999 |title=Richard Burge: Though not a participant in field sports himself, the new chief executive of the Countryside Alliance certainly understands them |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1715157025 |journal=The Field |volume=293 |issue=7135 |pages=24–25 |id={{ProQuest|1715157025}} |name-list-style=vanc}}{{cite news |last=Clover |first=Charles |date=3 December 1998 |title=Charles Clover talks to the new leader of the Countryside Alliance |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/317135406 |work=The Daily Telegraph |id={{ProQuest|317135406}}}} 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.{{cite press release |last=Watkins |first=James |date=6 October 2023 |title=LCCI Leadership Transition |url=https://www.londonchamber.co.uk/news-and-insights/news/press-releases/lcci-leadership-transition/ |location=London, United Kingdom |publisher=London Chamber of Commerce and Industry |access-date=14 October 2023}}

=Private sector=

From 2003 to 2009, Burge had a portfolio of part-time paid appointments. He was Strategy Director for the African Parks Foundation{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Tim |date=15 May 2005 |title=Out of Africa |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/439812568 |work=The Burlington Free Press |id={{ProQuest|439812568}}}} and a Commissioner for Rural Communities.{{cite news |last=McKie |first=Robin |date=21 March 2007 |title=Rural communities: Can bio-fuels transform the rural economy? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2007/mar/21/8 |work=The Guardian}} He is the founding partner of ESG Validation.{{cite news |last=Manders |first=Shannon |date=25 September 2019 |title=New independent ESG assessment organisation enters market |url=https://www.gtreview.com/news/sustainability/new-independent-esg-assessment-organisation-enters-market/ |work=Global Trade Review |access-date=13 May 2021}}

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|date=December 2023}}

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|date=December 2023}}

Political career

Burge is a member of the Labour Party.{{cite news |last=Perrone |first=Jane |date=20 September 2002 |title=The Countryside Alliance |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/sep/20/ruralaffairs.qanda |work=The Guardian |location=London, United Kingdom |access-date=14 October 2023}}

On 24 March 2022 he stood unsuccessfully for election as a Common Councillor for Vintry ward in the City of London.{{cite web |url=https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/about-us/voting-elections/elections-results |title=City of London Election Results |author= |date=24 March 2022 |website=www.cityoflondon.gov.uk |publisher=City of London Corporation |access-date=14 October 2023}}

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.{{cite news |last=Green |first=Daniel |date=28 May 2024 |title=Watch and read Rachel Reeves' speech today – and read full list of 120 business leaders backing Labour |url=https://labourlist.org/2024/05/rachel-reeves-general-election-2024-businesses-labour/ |work=LabourList |access-date=29 May 2024}}

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.