Richard Bean was appointed Deputy Chairman of the ACMA in 2010 for a five year term. In 2015 his appointment was extended for a further two years to October 2017. He has been Acting Chairman since 27 February 2016.
Before joining the ACMA he was general counsel and company secretary at wireless broadband infrastructure and ISP owner Unwired Group Limited, subsequently acquired by Optus. He had previously held positions responsible for the legal and business affairs side of Australian commercial free to air television network Network Ten's programming activities, and practised as a commercial, media and litigation lawyer at national commercial law firm Blake Dawson Waldron (now Ashurst).
Richard holds a BA (Hons) from the University of Sydney and a law degree from the University of New South Wales.
