From his earliest years, Robin has been inspired to go beyond what he thought was possible, to realise a higher level of achievement than he could imagine. At age six, he remembers “observing the world around me and thinking consciously about what I wanted to create”.
Growing up with older siblings in South East London, Robin would hear them comment on how he must be “learning from their mistakes” to avoid most of the challenges they had to deal with.
Throughout school Robin struggled with dyslexia, which was misunderstood and maligned. One teacher suggested that Robin should have “more realistic expectations” about what he could achieve in life! Robin went on to prove that with enough clarity of will, other peoples’ limiting ideas about us can be transcended.
STEPPING BEYOND LIMITS
At age ten Robin achieved a remarkable triumph for his school football team, which had lost their coach and was about to be scrapped by the Principle. Robin convinced a teacher and a parent who had coached to endorse the team. He became captain, rallied his teammates, gained local sponsors and lead them to WIN both the soccer League and Cup championships!
But soon after this Robin was diagnosed with a knee disease that ended his career in sports. Doctors told Robin that all he could do was walk, so walk he did. Robin immersed himself nature and traversed some of UK’s longest footpaths, climbed numerous mountains and never let his knee stop from pushing boundaries.
Robin’s father was a huge influence in his life, trusting that Robin could handle himself in almost any situation. When his father allowed him to go camping for a weekend alone at age eleven, it left an indelible mark of empowerment. Robin had discovered the power of Trust.
PURSUING LEADERSHIP
At seventeen Robin’s drive to push his own limits while serving others brought him to Africa for development work in remote villages. Recognising the need for civil engineers in developing countries, Robin returned to England to earn a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering with Environmental Management.
To pay his way through University, Robin joined the British Reserve Army and after basic training was promoted to be an Instructor in the Officer Training Corps. There he trained recruits in military protocol, strategy and discipline while honing his own leadership and communication skills.
Robin worked on a number of high profile projects in the UK such as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, which earned his team Awards for collaboration and productivity. He then relocated to Melbourne, Australia where he was recruited by the Victorian Government to drive a collaborative agenda to achieve breakthrough outcomes.
INSPIRING COOPERATION
In his service to the community he became Board Director on the Committee for Geelong, the region’s leading non-political strategy group. Robin completed the Williamson Community Leadership Program and the Australian Institute of Company Directors Diploma, serving as a Board member including Chair of Not-for Profit Community Organisations.
Robin represents Boston-based Vantage Partners in Australia as their Senior Consultant, Facilitator & Leadership Trainer in the Harvard Negotiation Project Theory, a world-leading approach to collaboration, negotiation, positive influence and strategic thinking. Robin still collaborates with these companies and organisations, building on decades of trusted industry and corporate relationships.
InspireMe was founded in 2013 when Robin and his wife Hannah were facing profound challenges with their two young children. It became clear that his corporate life had to adapt to their family needs, thus bringing more harmony into the home. Robin and his family now live in beautiful Byron Bay, where lush nature and vibrant culture help to balance his intense work schedule.
