Ric’s very first production was at the age of six for Caulfield South State School, when he wrote and produced a play for his class.
He studied law at Melbourne University, but soon moved into the media business.
Ric started GTK for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and worked in Australian television for many years as a director and producer. His low threshold for boredom meant that he soon drifted towards producing special events – particularly televised spectacles.
He was the Executive Director behind the opening and closing ceremonies for the Brisbane 1982 Commonwealth Games, after which Ric landed a position as the Director of Production for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
He was the Executive Producer for the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games and the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games (also Director of Ceremonies) and partnered with Filmmaster Group for the Torino 2006 Winter Olympic Games and the Paralympics in Torino 2006.
Seen as an expert on Olympic Games Ceremonies, Ric has advised Zhang Yimou on the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
At present he is working on the opening and closing ceremony of the Rio Olympics.
He founded Spectak Productions, an events production company specialising in global ceremonies production, television, film & theatre and themed entertainment.
