Robin’s family were political refugees from South Africa. A Politics graduate, Robin spent 10 years in London schools, including an exchange in Kingston, Jamaica. In 1987 he moved to Brixton College, and in 1990 to Southwark College. Following this, he worked in the FEFC, during which time he qualified as a part-time inspector. In 1997 he was appointed as Assistant Principal at Bilston Community College, then in 1999 was recruited as FET Adviser to the British Council, from which position he was seconded to work as General Manager of the Colleges Collaboration Fund in South Africa until 2001. His most recent post in FE was as Deputy Principal at Hackney Community College. He is currently Chief Executive of the Network for Black Professionals (NBP) and Director of LMS Associates Ltd consultancy.

The NBP is social justice, not-for-profit social enterprise that exists to promote the benefits of ethnic and cultural diversity for the local, regional and national economies of the UK. A membership organisation with over 150 corporate members, it offers a range of benefits and services for corporate and individual clients, and delivers contracts for a range of organisations, including e.g. the Learning and Skills Council, Learning & Skills Improvement Service, CWDC (Children's Workforce Development Council), National College of School Leadership and a range of others. The NBP is an approved Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) centre and delivers a range of programmes from level 2 to 7 through its award-winning professional development arm, the Black Leadership Initiative®.

Robin is a member of the Black Leadership Advisory Board, Member of DIUS/LLUK Workforce Race Advisory Group, LSIS Excellence Advisory Group, Ufi Equality and Diversity Advisory Group, LLUK Catalyst Programme Assurance Group, the Institute of Directors, City of Wolverhampton College Corporation, BECTA Stakeholder Advisory Group, the Institute of Leadership & Management and the Institute of Learning.