Richard Hall OBE is an ex army Commanding Officer, ex Head of the Vice-Chancellor's Department at AUT University. Richard has also served as a senior national officer in the NZ Defense force. He has many fantastic achievements and has served in the military all over the world. ​Richard's career has given him the opportunity to make a real difference to individuals and organizations. He has held many leadership positions in organizations with different institutional cultures. He has lead multi-national teams across the globe, for example in: Central Asia, Africa, UK and New Zealand. In doing this Richard has won many international awards for his strong and inspirational leadership style as well as securing numerous prestigious achievements for his military service around the world. Richard's next goal is to move into the not profit sector and help make a difference to other people’s lives.

While Richard was on sabbatical leave from AUT University he volunteered to go to Afghanistan and lead the New Zealand Provincial reconstruction Team. Richard worked alongside the Afghan authorities as well as with civilian settlements with the overall aims of: improving provincial administration, security and ensuring that essential services to deprived areas were safely delivered. Such services had been greatly affected due to the major wars. This act earned Richard the New Zealand Order of Merit.​

Richard Hall is a hugely inspirational New Zealander. He possesses strong characteristics of courage, honor and loyalty all essential when serving one's own country as a military officer. Richard has strong inspirational and transformational leadership qualities and has served time on the battlefield itself. Richard has had to overcome danger, fear and uncertainty in ensuring that peace, integrity and fairness are preserved within the real horrors of modern day combat and war.