Richard Bruce is a seasoned Exploration Geologist for Western Australia’s Department of Mines and Petroleum. With over 40 years of experience in geoscience and administration, Richard’s expertise includes petroleum and mineral exploration, as well as acreage evaluation. He has a history of developing policy and publication initiatives, and has a strong complementary background in administrative leadership within his industry and the scientific community that has made him an invaluable asset to the Department.

At the same time as doing a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and Geophysics from the University of Western Australia, he completed a Diploma in Gemology from the Gemological Association of Australia. 

Richard cut his teeth in the petroleum industry as a mudlogger and wellsite geologist for Exploration Logging, for whom he worked onsite in the United Kingdom North Sea, Pakistan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Western Australia and Bass Strait.

He has also explored for gold, base metals, gemstones and kaolin, in areas such as the Kimberleys, Pilbara and Yilgarn Craton of Western Australia, as well as in Tasmania.

He worked in a number of contract and geological positions over the years and went on to complete a Graduate Diploma in Applied Physics (Advanced Petroleum Physics) from Curtin University.

Prior to joining the Department of Mines and Petroleum in 1997, Richard served as an Administrative Officer for the School of Physics and Geosciences at Curtin University of Technology.  He received numerous written commendations for the School’s annual Research and Development Reports, which he coordinated and edited.

At the Department of Mines and Petroleum he developed a “one-stop shop” concept acreage release package for onshore and State Waters Western Australian areas, and developed strategies for promoting acreage. The Western Australian jurisdiction acreage release has received recognition at the highest levels of government. The WA Premier and the Minister for Mines and Petroleum commented in Prospect magazine of March-May 2015: “ DMP’s expertise in oil and gas licensing took centre stage at last month’s Oil and Gas International Summit 2015 in London … The audience heard that WA is internationally recognised for having a best-practice oil and gas licensing system …” Richard pioneered WA’s acreage promotional presence in Houston, London, Calgary and Singapore.

Today Richard resides in Perth, Western Australia, and is a member of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia and the Southeast Asia Petroleum Exploration Society. In addition to his native English, he has elementary proficiency in French and Indonesian.

In his spare time, Richard has interests in travel, Bible study, and property investment.

Worldwide Association of Notable Alumni Member Richard Bruce can be found on the Who’s Who Directory where he is looking forward to networking with you.