Edward Richard Woods, CNZM (born 20 September 1941, Greymouth) is a New Zealand diplomat and public servant. He is currently Chair of the Board of the Environmental Risk Management Authority, a New Zealand Government Agency that ensures compliance with the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act – HSNO Act 1996. He took over as chairman on the retirement of Neil Walter.^[1]

Woods was awarded the Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit^[2] in 2007 for public services, lately as director of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service,^[3] he was previously a diplomat with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.^[1]

In 1961, Woods graduated with a BA from the University of Canterbury.^{[citation needed]} This was followed by another BA (which was upgraded to an MA) from Brasenose College, Oxford in 1965.^{[citation needed]}

Richard was married to Joanna Proby in 1970, they have two sons and five grandchildren. Three from one son, two from the other.^{[citation needed]}

• 2008– Chair, New Zealand Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA)
• 2008– New Zealand co-Chair, New Zealand/France Friendship Fund
• 2008– Trustee, Henry and William Williams Memorial Trust
• 2007– Trustee, Henry and William Williams Museum Trust
• 1999–2006 Director and CEO, New Zealand Security Intelligence Service
• 1995–99 Ambassador, Paris, and Permanent Representative to OECD
• 1993–95 Ambassador, Moscow
• 1991–93 Director, Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT)
• 1990–91 Director, Middle East and Africa, MFAT
• 1988–90 Ambassador, Athens
• 1984–87 Ambassador, Tehran
• 1982–84 Deputy Head of Mission, Washington DC
• 1980–81 Deputy Director, External Aid, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
• 1977–79 Consul-General, Bahrain
• 1975–77 First Secretary, Tehran
• 1973–74 First Secretary, MFA
• 1968–72 Assistant Trade Commissioner, Rome
• 1966–68 Advisory Officer, Department of Industries and Commerce