Robin has worked on public policy issues and public affairs issue management for over three decades. As national director of the New Democratic Party, he focused on improving the party's policy making, and policy promotion infrastructure, creating its first popular issues publication, its first external review of economic and then security policy and its first national policy outreach campaigns. He also launched the party's first nation-wide qualitative research programs and its first national direct marketing projects. Robin served as national campaign director, and executive producer of the radio and TV campaigns for the three most successful national election campaigns in the party's history.
He has served as Deputy Secretary General of the Socialist International, the world's largest organization of political parties, under former German Chancellor Willy Brandt. In that role, Robin was responsible for communications, administration, as well as Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. Robin worked with world leaders in the Middle East, Central America, and Southern Africa. He also edited the policy journal of the organization.
From 1985 to 1990, Robin served as Chief of Staff to then Ontario Premier Bob Rae. During the 1985-87 "Accord" government period, he managed the complex relationship between the Peterson cabinet and the NDP, stewarding the legislative and political agenda of the two parties. He was appointed Ontario's senior diplomatic representative to Asia Pacific in 1990.
As Agent-General, Robin was based in Tokyo and managed a network of seven trade and investment offices from Korea to India, promoting trade, investment, cultural and tourism exchange. He worked on behalf of leading Canadian corporations in every major market in the region, focusing on telecommunications and finance.
Robin began his career as News Editor of City-TV in Toronto. He is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business Advanced Management Program.
