RICHARD WALLIS
MSc (Distinction) Pharmacology – University of Otago, New Zealand
BSc Hons (1st Class) Biochemistry – Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
PRINCIPAL - ARCADIAN CHEMICAL CONSULTING
Richard has been working within the chemical industries of Australia and New Zealand, across various market segments, for greater than 20 years. During this period, he has acted in technical and regulatory roles for both the government and private sectors.
Post university Richard joined Callaghan Innovation, a New Zealand government entity conducting scientific research and development to support businesses innovate and grow. After 5 years in a research role with Callaghan Innovation Richard joined the New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority (NZ EPA) as a Technical Advisor in their Hazardous Substances team. At the NZ EPA he gained a strong working knowledge of the Hazard Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) regulatory framework and provided guidance to industry and government on a range of HSNO matters, including:
- Chemical hazard classification and communication
- Chemical risk assessment
- HSNO approval review and assignment
- Compliance with safety data sheet, labelling, packaging and disposal criteria
- Site and storage advice for hazardous chemicals
Following three years with the NZ EPA Richard moved to Australia and obtained a position with Allnex, a global manufacturer and supplier of coatings, resins and additives for use in a variety of industries, such as marine, pool, automotive, paint, construction, paper and water treatment. At that time, Allnex also operated a food and nutrition, and specialty chemical, distribution business that supplied a range of ingredients and raw materials to Australian based food and pharmaceutical manufacturers.
With Allnex, Richard gained a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory landscape that applied to industrial chemicals in Australia, in particular polymers and their additives, and oversaw market access and compliance for all import, production, and supply activities. Across this time, he also built capability in the robust quality and identity requirements needed to support specialised markets such as food, animal health, personal care and pharma.
Next, after four and a half years with Allnex, Richard joined Ecolab, a global chemical and technology company providing products and services across a range of Australian and New Zealand markets, such as:
- Healthcare (including animal health, life science)
- Agriculture (including dairy farm hygiene, veterinary and biosecurity disinfectants)
- Food and beverage processing, hospitality, food service, commercial laundries
- Pulp and paper
- Water treatment
- Mining and mineral processing
- Power generation
In this senior regulatory role Richard partnered with the Ecolab commercial divisions and supply chain teams to ensure their chemical products were successfully launched and met all jurisdictional compliance.
As a result of the diverse Ecolab product portfolio, he gained a wide-ranging understanding of the regulations (and government regulators) that apply to chemical products based on their market claims and uses throughout Australia and New Zealand. Including, industrial, household and personal care chemicals regulated by AICIS and the NZ EPA, therapeutic goods controlled by the TGA and Medsafe, agricultural and veterinary medicine products managed by the APVMA and NZ MPI (ACVM Group), and food chemicals overseen by FSANZ.
In 2023, after 12 years with Ecolab, Richard established Arcadian Chemical Consulting to support Australian and New Zealand chemical stakeholders; manufacturers, importers/distributers, transporters and end-users, attain market access, advance operational sustainability and ensure compliance.