Richard Higham
Keynote speaker
Expert Facilitator
"Richard
Higham is one of those rare academics who has 'real world' credentials
from the street to back up what he's teaching and he does so in a fun,
interesting and informative manner... for all those in business who
don't want to get left behind".
Richard is an expert on
entrepreneurship and new venture management. He has an interest in why
people decide to trade goods and services, particularly to distant
markets. He has done this himself in his own firm and helped other
small and large companies to expand through skilful new venturing. His
particular talent is working with new ventures in an interactive way to
provide templates and tools to translate opportunities into business.
Richard
Higham was born and brought up in London. He was educated at Raynes
Park County Grammar School, and after National Service in the Brigade
of Guards and Royal Engineers, he took a degree in classics and
philosophy at Oxford. In 1962 he joined the Plastics Division of
Imperial Chemical Industries, and worked on the commercial side, in
personnel, selling and marketing. In 1970, he was invited to attend
London Business School as a Sloan Fellow, undertaking research into
fast growth entrepreneurial firms. His then started his own firm
marketing high value research chemicals into New Zealand: and a selling
trip in 1973 ended up with his running the newly founded Business
Development Centre at Otago University.
Over the years
Richard has pursued a number of projects that have taken him away from
Otago University. However, he has always returned. He is currently a
business lecturer at the Otago University. And he served as the
Director of the Business Development Centre for 12 years, a
University-based consultancy service which fostered initiatives. He
also served as president of the Otago University Rugby club, was
quizmaster on the TV programme University Challenge, and worked on the
Energy Advisory Quango.
After his first stint at the
University of Otago, Richard left New Zealand to teach venture capital
at London Business School. On his return to New Zealand a year later,
he took up a post at the Auckland Graduate School of Business teaching
entrepreneurship. He then started the University's General Management
Programme and co-ordinated the teaching of all new venture and
entrepreneurship papers. He was a founding trustee of the Auckland New
Venture Trust, an initiative to help people into work through his or
her own enterprise.
He has been active in learning,
gaining a Diploma in Archaeology from London University in 1965 and a
Masters in Philosophy (into the job creation process) from Auckland
University in 1995.
"Richard Higham quickly
gets to the hub
regarding the realities and challenges of entrepreneurship and new
venturing. His pragmatism combined with his successful real world
experience and a less traditional academic communication style ensures
a stimulating, sometimes sobering and often entertaining learning
experience. It pays to interact, listen and focus. What you hear and
learn could very well make the difference between success and failure."
John Sumner, Managing Director, GuideTools.com Limited
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