After taking degrees in Mathematics and Linguistics at Cambridge University, Rob’s 30-year career in the Civil Service was spent mainly in and around Whitehall.
Rob was instrumental in developing many aspects of government education policy, including involvement in giving university status to the former polytechnics and subsequently served at the Higher Education Funding Council for England. After leaving the Civil Service, Rob had consultancy assignments in Africa, the Middle East and Pakistan. He has lived in Islington since 1980 and now spends much of his time in non-executive roles there, with an emphasis on education and social justice. He has been governor of three Islington schools. He was a governor of London Metropolitan University from 2010 to 2017 and Vice-Chair from 2013.
He is also a governor of the Cripplegate Foundation, a local grant-giving body, and is currently Chair of Islington Giving, which brings together residents, businesses, trusts and foundations to help create opportunities and tackle the effects of poverty and inequality in Islington. This pioneering initiative is now being replicated in boroughs across London and beyond.
“Islington is important to me because I’ve lived here for over 30 years and have increasingly become involved with the organisations serving its residents. Through my work as a local school and university governor, I am well aware of the huge diversity in this inner London borough, and am keen to play my part in tackling the poverty and inequality which gets in the way.”