Richard Appleyard (PhD) is Director of Surgical Skills Training and Director of Orthopeadic Research in the Faculty of Medicine, Human and Health Sciences (Macquarie University).  He is a biomechanical engineer with 30 years’ experience in orthopeadic research, establishing research labs at Royal North Shore Hospital, St George Hospital and Macquarie University. His core areas of research include mechanical testing of tissue and implants, medical image analysis, joint kinematics, implant design and evaluation and computer modelling of the musculoskeletal skeletal system.  Richard established the first dedicated Surgical Skills Training Facility at Royal North Shore Hospital before moving to Macquarie University in 2010 to setup and direct the then new Surgical Skills and Anatomy Training Facility. This facility continues to set the Gold Standard for clinical training in Australia and is one of the most active and highly respected labs in the world.