Richard Marks is a Chartered Civil Engineer and has 44 years' experience in the port and maritime industry, with port authorities, contractors and engineering consultants. He has wide experience of maritime development, having worked for the Port of Southampton, marine construction contractors and port consultants. He worked on the repair and construction of both gas and oil production platforms in the North Sea. He was employed by Royal Haskoning for the last 33 years until September 2012.

He has considerable experience in the planning and development of ports and harbours for all cargo modes and particularly for ferry and RoRo terminals. He is the principal author of the CIRIA Report C518 'Safety in Ports - ship to shore linkspans and walkways' published in 1999. He has recently planned a number of sustainable port developments incorporating cost effective environmental improvements and 'green' technology.

He is also Chairman of ICHCA International's International Safety Panel and is a Director of ICHCA International Limited (the cargo handling association).