Richard Thom BA (Hons) DChA FCA FRAD

A Chartered Accountant who began his career with Sharp, Parsons, Tallon & Co, Richard brings 27 years of experience as Director of Finance and Administration at the Royal Academy of Dance to the Board.  Before that time, he worked for oil, shipping and automobile companies overseas.

Over the years he has participated in many committees, undertaken voluntary positions in employee associations, served on community associations in various roles, and carried out dance consultancy and trouble-shooting assignments, nationally and internationally.

He is a current Trustee of the Frederick Ashton Foundation and bbodance as well as being a former Chairman of the Registration Board of the Council for Dance Education and Training CDET (now Council for Dance Drama and Musical Theatre CDMT), a Director of Youth Dance England (now part of One Dance UK), and a Trustee of the Dancers’ Pension Trust (now dissolved) and the Dance Professionals Fund.

Richard has an honours degree in Business and Administration, majoring in Finance from the University of Portsmouth and a Diploma in Charity Accounting (DChA).  He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (FCA) and the Royal Academy of Dance (FRAD).

He has written “Dance into Business” a how-to guide aimed at dance students, professional dancers and teachers wanting to go into business.  He lectures from time-to-time on business matters to students and teachers, and over the years has contributed articles to the Royal Academy of Dance’s membership publication Dance Gazette and Dancing Times.

Richard has been a Trustee since February 2020.