Dr Richard Earl joined the academic staff of Cranfield University in 1987 where he became Leader of the Engineering Group and Director of the Cranfield Centre for Sports Surfaces. His research career has developed in the inter-related areas of Soil Mechanics and Soil Environment Engineering. This has provided an ideal basis for his current appointment as Managing Director of TGMS and PSD Agronomy which involves the application of fundamental scientific principles to the development of sports surfaces.  

Richard provides technical support to Sport England through their design guidance and technical assurances framework. He is a Visiting Fellow of Cranfield University, he has published widely in the academic press, he is a Chartered Engineer and has more than 30 years of consultancy experience relating to land drainage and the design and construction of natural turf, hybrid and artificial sports facilities.