Rob was born in the Midlands in 1966. He was educated at Howick High, where he was head boy and then graduated with a BSc Honours Degree in Agricultural Economics in 1990 from the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg. After University, Rob worked in as a photographic safari guide and assisted with wildlife film-making in the Okavango Delta for three years. Rob joined the Afrika Odyssey Expedition led by Kingsley Holgate, traversing Africa from Cape Town to Cairo as the official photographer. After this remarkable trip along the waterways of Africa, Rob set off to travel abroad. From 1994 to 1998 he travelled in the United Kingdom, Europe, Israel, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. The last 16 months of this four year sojourn were spent travelling and working in the United States, Mexico, Canada and Alaska.

Rob grew up speaking English and Zulu and served with Zulu troops during his National Service in 1984/5. Always interested in the Zulu people and the drama of the Zulu War, he joined David and Nicky Rattray at Fugitives’ Drift Lodge in April 2001, where he was engaged with hosting and guiding often distinguished guests to the battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. A central theme in these lectures on the Anglo-Zulu War is one of reconciliation and how reconciliation can develop from conflict. Having understudied David Rattray, his mentor and great friend, for six years, Rob became the principal lecturer for the next 4½ years after David’s untimely death in 2007. Rob then began his own business in 2011 as a professional speaker and specialist tour guide. Rob continues to present balanced accounts to guests with great passion and enthusiasm and focuses on delivering corporate business strategy lectures in . A number of corporations and senior management teams have called upon his professional-speaking skills to deliver strategy and corporate best-practice seminars using his knowledge of South African history to offer insightful comparison, intriguing content and real-life examples.

Since 2004 Rob has lectured extensively in the United Kingdom and South Africa. The highlight of his speaking career was being invited to speak at the Royal Geographical Society, where he presented to a full house in September 2010. He continues to conduct these lecture tours to the United Kingdom annually, and in 2012 the Royal Geographic Society will showcase Rob's talk on Scott and Shackleton's expeditions to the Antarctic. These stories deserve high profile with the centenaries upon us. How can one imagine the disappointment of Scott being beaten by Amundsen, or the triumph of Shackleton escaping the ice without losing a life? Epics of human struggle and triumphs of the human spirit. He will also be conducting a historical tour to Sudan for Abercrombie & Kent.

Rob is a passionate photographer, with a special interest in wildlife, landscapes and birds. He regularly presents slide shows on his travels, expeditions and the Anglo Zulu War. He was intimately involved in the field research and photography required in producing David Rattray’s book “A Soldier Artist in Zululand”.

Always confident with people, Rob loves the challenge and the reward of this wonderful vocation – entertaining audiences in the theatres of their imagination and transporting them via the power of a story well told.