Richard Foster

Chief Executive Officer, Family Court of Australia
Acting Chief Executive Officer, Federal Magistrates Court of Australia
Immediate Past President, International Association for Court Administration

Richard Foster was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Family Court of Australia (Australia’s superior court in family law) in May 2000 and Acting CEO of the Federal Magistrates Court in November 2008. As CEO, Richard assists the Chief Justice and the Chief Federal Magistrate in the administration of the two courts. Under his leadership, the Family Court has undergone substantial change. The establishment of the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia and extensive family law reform by the Australian Government entailed a fundamental review of the role of the Family Court. Richard has advanced the Court’s standing with the Federal Attorney-General’s Department from an organisation that operated in isolation to an open and consultative one, enabling the Court to lead and contribute to innovation and professionalism in the family law system. Prior to his appointment, Richard worked in court administration in executive positions such as the Executive Director Court Services, Ministry of Justice Western Australia; Registrar of the District Court in South Australia; and Registrar of the Magistrates Court of South Australia.

He is the previous Chair of the Australasian Court Administrators Group; previous Member of Council of the Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration; previous Chair of the Institutes Case Management Committee and its Library Standards Committee; previous member of the Victorian Civil Justice Review Advisory Group.

Richard is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Canberra. He sits on the Board of Children’s Rights International and the Board of Marymead, an NGO established to support vulnerable and disadvantaged children and families.

In 2006, Richard was awarded the Australian Public Service medal for his outstanding contribution to the area of Court’s Administration.