Richard David Conroy Evans (born 7 September 1953) is an Australian writer and a former federal politician, peak industry body executive, and business and leadership consultant. Evans is an author in the emerging genre of Australian political and parliamentary thriller, with his first fiction novel – Deceit – published in July 2018. Evans served as a Liberal Party of Australia member in the Australian House of Representatives. He was the member for Cowan from 1993 to 1998. From the late 1970s, Evans forged a successful career as a corporate executive and has led several national industry associations. He has served as the CEO of the Franchise Council of Australia, Executive Director of the Australian Retailers Association, Executive Director of Clubs Victoria and the Council of Textile and Fashion Industries Australia. In 2005 he graduated Bachelor of Arts and in 2012 graduated Masters of Creative Writing. Early life Evans, the second of two sons, was born in Melbourne, Victoria, to Rena (née Haworth) and Robert Evans. Robert Evans (21 October 1926 – 30 May 1996) served in the Australian Air Force during World War 2, and worked as an upholsterer for the government railways, an experimental trimmer for Volkswagen, and a planning technician for Olympic Tyres. Robert Evans was the Victorian Commissioner for Scouts and contributed significantly to that organisation in a variety of leadership roles. Rena Evans (17 March 1926 – 8 August 2014) was a retailer and chef's executive manager at the Victorian Royal Melbourne Hospital. Richard Evans grew up in Williamstown, Victoria; attended the local primary and secondary schools, leaving school at 16 years of age. Evans started working in various retail outlets, pumped petrol and delivered pharmacy prescriptions when still at school. At 16, Evans took a job as an apprentice within the printing industry, working in newspapers and graphic arts. Soon after completing his four-year apprenticeship, he moved into the hospitality industry and was promoted to management roles with Lazars and at the Melbourne Hilton. As a teenager and young adult, he was a skilled sportsman and won many events and tournaments in track and field athletics and badminton. He played semi-professional Australian Rules football for the Williamstown Football Club, playing in a premiership with the Thirds in 1971 and playing 5 senior games, kicking one goal, in 1975 and 1976, before moving to Western Australia as a senior player for the Subiaco Football Club. Business