Richard Kensington is an Auckland-based international education strategist with over 30 years of experience spanning academic relations, student pathways, institutional partnerships, and education governance across New Zealand, Australia, the Middle East, and Asia.

From 2001 to 2025, Richard held senior leadership roles at UP Education (formerly ACG Education), New Zealand's largest private education provider, culminating in the position of Principal, Academic Relations. In this role he led the development of global education partnerships, negotiated articulation agreements between New Zealand institutions and universities abroad, and managed key relationships with government and regulatory bodies including NZQA, the Ministry of Education, and Immigration New Zealand. Earlier in his tenure, as Academic Registrar and Registrar, he oversaw admissions and student management for more than 3,000 international students, and led offshore recruitment initiatives across the Middle East and CIS countries.

Richard also led curriculum development for the NZ Tertiary Education Consortium's offshore education contract in Oman — New Zealand's largest such contract — delivering four bachelor's degree programmes.

His contribution to sector governance includes service on the Education New Zealand Trust Board (2006–2011), representation of Independent Schools of New Zealand in international and government liaison, and representation of UP Education within Quality Tertiary Institutions (2019–2025). He has also served on the boards of trustees of Epsom Girls' Grammar School and Kelston Girls' High School, chairing property and finance committees for major capital works including an $8M sports facility.

Prior to his work in tertiary pathways, Richard spent 15 years at Kelston Girls' High School, including as Deputy Principal, where he established an international student recruitment programme and led major school infrastructure and fundraising projects.

Richard now works independently as an education advisor, supporting international education agents and New Zealand schools with recruitment strategy, partnership development, and market growth. He is a regular contributor to sector newsletters and has presented at Education New Zealand, SIEBA, and other international conferences on student marketing and compliance.

This is Richard's third year serving as a judge for QS Reimagine Education.