A Short Biography of Director-General Richard M. Levin
Director-General of Economic Development, South Africa.Prof Richard Levin is currently the Director-General of the Economic Development Department (EDD) established in May 2009. The department is located at the centre of government’s priority towards the creation of decent work through meaningful economic and inclusive growth. After joining the department in 2010, he was tasked with a mandate to establish the department, set up corporate governance processes and staffing the department. However, he also carries a mandate of leading the department in the implementation of the New Growth Path released by the department in October 2010 and to guide the work of the department in achieving the goal of the creation of decent work.
He has held numerous leading roles in Government since 1997. Richard was previously the Director-General of the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) where he was instrumental in the National Macro Reorganisation of the State implemented in 2009. He has contributed greatly to innovations in public service reforms both in literature and practice during his six year tenure as Director General of the DPSA and in his Deputy Director General role in Office of the Public Service Commission focussing on Governance and Service Delivery Improvement. Prior to this, Richard headed the Chief Directorate of Land Reform Coordination and Implementation support within the Department of Land Affairs.
Richard was the Chairperson of the Government Employee Medical Scheme (GEMS) which is now the second largest medical scheme in the country, covering 1. 5 Million lives in just six years since its inception. He also served as the Chairperson of the South African Chapter of the African Association of Public Administration and Management (AAPAM).
He is an accomplished scholar and a visiting professor at the University of Pretoria and the University of the Witwatersrand; and has previously held various academic positions at Wits, Swaziland and Liverpool. Prof Richard Levin holds a PhD in Political Theory and Institutions from the University of Liverpool, a BA Honours in Development Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand; and is a graduate of the Senior Executive Programme from Harvard / University of Witwatersrand.