Riley is a director–dramaturg working primarily in comedy.

As a director, his work includes LOG BOY (State Theatre Company of South Australia); HOT TUB and THE ITALIANS (Belvoir); and AUSTRALIAN OPEN and THIS BITTER EARTH (Theatre Works).

As dramaturg, his work includes THE UNRULY TOURISTS (New Zealand Opera), and the original developments of HUBRIS & HUMILIATION, which later premiered at Sydney Theatre Company.

Riley was the assistant director on the Helpmann Award winning rock musical BARBARA & THE CAMP DOGS (Belvoir).

He is a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (B.A. Performance Making) and the National Institute of Dramatic Art (M.F.A. Directing).