Robbie is a lawyer with expertise in construction and infrastructure projects. His work includes government commissioned, and development bank funded projects across numerous jurisdictions. Prior to his move to the UK in 2014, Robbie worked as a lawyer in New Zealand, where he was heavily involved in legal and policy issues arising in relation to the rebuild of Christchurch city, following the 2010/2011 earthquakes. He also provided free legal advice and representation to many people and organisations in the years following. Outside of the law, Robbie has spent a substantial amount of time helping displaced people. 

In the immediate aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes, he supervised a team of 200 volunteers helping to provide on-the-ground disaster relief. More recently, Robbie worked with another international charity fundraising and providing practical support for refugees in Calais, where he worked alongside refugees in the camp to build a vaccination centre and helped to distribute free legal advice.  Robbie also volunteered at the Monsanto Tribunal in The Hague, on the proposed crime “Ecocide”. Robbie has been a trustee of IRT since June 2017.

I have seen first-hand the tragedy of people who have had everything taken away from them, but also the astounding resilience and resourcefulness of those people to rebuild. IRT’s work in providing urgent relief, but also effective, holistic empowerment programmes, is so very important to the people and communities they reach.