Simon Richards is a highly trained colorectal and general surgeon serving as a Clinical Senior Lecturer with the Department of Surgery at University of Otago. He grew up in Christchurch, completed undergraduate medical training in Dunedin, and finished surgical training in Christchurch, becoming a RACS fellow in 2017.

After completing a Master's degree, he undertook subspecialty colorectal training across Australian hospitals (Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth in 2019, and Royal Melbourne, Women's, and Western Hospitals in Melbourne 2020-2021). He joined the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand in 2022 and returned to Christchurch as a Consultant Surgeon.

His expertise encompasses laparoscopic and open colorectal surgery, colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, endometriosis, and various other gastrointestinal and general surgical conditions.