About Richard Ogston

Career beginnings

In the mid-80s, I began my career in the City of London at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), one of North America's largest financial institutions. Starting as a general office clerk, I quickly advanced to client reporting and client services management roles for institutional clients, and later transitioned into operational, transaction-related supervisory and management roles.

Advancing into project management

By my late 20s, my passion for innovation and driving change inspired me to move from operations into IT, where I worked as a business analyst and tester on several automation projects. This experience eventually led to my promotion to project manager. Enthralled by the world of project management, I earned a professional certificate in project management from The Open University. In addition, my contributions to project delivery were recognised by RBC in 1999 and 2001, when I was honoured with two UK Employee of the Year awards.

Senior level programme and project management delivery

My consistent success in project delivery enabled me to progress to senior project manager, programme manager, and eventually into related functional director-level roles. These positions gave me invaluable experience in overseeing and delivering complex, strategically significant programmes and projects. 

Over nearly 30 years at RBC, I worked extensively with institutional clients, third-party vendors, management consultancy firms, and project and business teams across multiple geographies. This experience has given me a deep understanding of diverse business cultures, methodologies, and organisational complexities

Transition into academia

In 2016 I left RBC to pursue my commitment to lifelong learning and my passion for project management and developing others. I completed a full-time MSc in project management at the University of Westminster and gained voluntary project management experience in the not-for-profit sector. These experiences paved the way for a new career in academia, where I have served as a post-graduate lecturer, at several UK universities.

Coaching and consultancy

As a coach and consultant, I leverage my extensive expertise in project management and coaching to provide practical, results-driven solutions. With a deep understanding of delivery leadership and organisational behaviour, I help individuals and businesses enhance their project management performance. My coaching and consultancy is tailored to each client's unique needs, ensuring a pragmatic approach that drives sustainable success.

Commitment to continuous learning

In line with my commitment to lifelong learning, I was one of the first to receive the new certification in AI Project Management from the APMG, which focuses on how to use AI to optimise project outcomes, enhance decision-making processes, and improve efficiency.

Additionally, I have recently successfully completed my Practitioner Diploma in Executive Coaching and accreditation with the Academy of Executive Coaching (AoEC) which has further expanded and certified my coaching capabilities. These qualifications, combined with my many years of experience and existing qualifications, enable me to offer forward-thinking solutions that address complex current and future project management challenges.

I’m married, have three daughters, and live in Bedfordshire, England.