Born in Torgau, in the Free State of Saxony, Richter moved to Hanover as a young man to begin his career in the senior civil service of Lower Saxony's state police force. Thanks to his numerous established connections abroad, Richter decided to start his own business in the 1990s, embarking on a new career in Dubai. For some 15 years, he served as a liaison between the German business community and companies throughout the Middle East region. In most cases, he worked in close cooperation with the German Chamber of Commerce Abroad (AHK), the German Embassy and ministries. In 2013, Richter relocated his family to Shanghai and established SYMTAQ, a consultancy for international relations, politics and business. His successful cooperation with Chinese clients in the construction of the Jin Mao Tower Shanghai provided the groundwork for this move. As Senior Vice President of SYMTAQ, he subsequently broadened its field of operations to include the aerospace industry. He stewarded PEGASUS Air Service and the new Relax Airlines among others. At the Hannover Messe (Hanover Fair) 2008, his involvement with the ESA Technology Transfer project sparked his enthusiasm for the space industry. He also supported Prof. Ulf Merbold and Prof. Ernst Messerschmid, two German astronauts, during this stint. Since this time, Joachim Richter has taken charge of expanding EQUIPE IN SPACE's network and support in the Middle East and Asia.