Richard Hurst is a Gamilaroi man who grew up in Sydney, his early career was in property, recruitment and sales. After completing a Bachelor of Business and Commerce at Western Sydney University, Richard worked in the federal public service on International education and tertiary education infrastructure projects, including building Indigenous Skills Centres.

Making the move to Melbourne in 2013, Richard championed the Indigenous Accountants Australia Initiative which seeks to increase the representation of Indigenous Australians across all areas of the accounting profession. Richard worked as the Indigenous Employment Program Manager at Crown Melbourne. Then at the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association showcasing post-secondary education pathways, Richard most recently worked at Monash University as the Indigenous Employment and Engagement Manager, strengthening recruitment processes and the retention and professional development of Indigenous staff.