Richard Sanders is an ecological economist (the economics of sustainability), futurist, environmental scientist and change agent who has delved deeply into the concept of sustainability for over 20 years. 

Richard is a visionary systems thinker who has grappled with the questions of what the sustainable society would necessarily look like in principle (based on ecological and thermodynamic imperatives), the transitionary technical and social pathways necessary to get there, and the democratic political processes necessary to bring about such a transition.  His work is grounded in a transdisciplinary research program over decades focusing on the problem of defining the biophysical, social and economic parameters of a sustainable society and how to make the transition to such a society. 

This research program is grounded in the life sciences, earth sciences, physical sciences, thermodynamics, economics (neoclassical, welfare, natural resource, environmental, ecological, institutional, Keynesian, financial and political economy), political science, policy analysis, sociological perspectives and more.  This grounding has given rise to an integrated, holistic and synthesised understanding of sustainability – of complex systems and the issues involved, and a powerful approach to problem solving that often sees a way through complexity to practical solutions.

His former life as a self-employed boat builder specialising in timber yacht construction, design and construction of marine refrigeration systems, cabinet making, sail making, yacht chartering and navigation teaching provides a highly practical dimension to his capabilities.

Richard is currently employed as a senior policy officer within the Queensland government dealing with sustainable natural resource management.  He is also the executive officer and founder of Quest 2025, a not-for-profit community organisation which aims to: “help facilitate the transformation of society through informed people power and the democratic process from its current state of social, spiritual and ecological crisis into an enlightened civilisation that is ecologically sustainable and socially just by the year 2025”. 

He is personally and professionally committed to working collaboratively to help bring about the urgent transition to sustainability through his research focus on sustainability, both within academia and government, and through his leadership locally, nationally and internationally.

He took a leadership role in bringing together the initial members of the current steering committee of Green Cross Australia, and is involved in a variety of initiatives including the Great Transitions Initiative (Tellus Institute, Boston), the Australian National Sustainability Initiative and Harvard University’s Initiative on Science and Technology for Sustainability.

Quest 2025 is one of many initiatives he has founded or co-founded including Griffith University Sustainable Society Club in 1990 (and the first of what are now the successful annual National Students and Sustainability conferences), Economic Reform Australia (1993), Australian Coalition for Economic Justice (1993), and the highly successful Australian coalition to Stop the Multilateral Agreement on Investment.

Richard has been actively networking with sustainability leaders nationally and internationally in the quest for sustainability, focusing on the ‘big picture’ level and on clarifying the sustainability concept as objectively as possible to ensure that people are working in common purpose and not at cross purposes.  He has worked in bringing together some of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, church leaders, community leaders and heads of peak bodies.

He has been invited to appear before a number of Parliamentary Inquiries including GATS/USFTA (2003), Australia’s relationship with WTO (2000), Multilateral Agreement on Investment (1998), Ecologically Sustainable Land Management (1997), Financial System Inquiry (1996) and Ecologically Sustainable Development (1991).

He has served on various Griffith University committees (in Brisbane), including University Council (1994-1996), Academic Committee (1990-1991), Site Planning Committee (1993-1996) and the Environmental Sciences Faculty Committee (1989-1991).