Tongkat

Robert Robson OBE

Executive Director

Robert Robson joined the Royal Navy as a General List Seaman Officer in 1981, before going to London University to read History at Royal Holloway College on a University Cadetship. He served in minesweepers, frigates and destroyers in various different theatres.

In 1987 he joined Barclays plc and followed a generalist career with roles in branch relationship management and Operations, Regional Sales Director, Group Personnel and as Chief Operating Officer of the Large Corporate Banking team. He became Deputy Managing Director of European Business Banking in 1999 and then moved to the Group Strategy team to lead the educational work delivering a cultural change programme to the senior cadre of the Barclays Group.

In 2002 he moved to Barclays Private Bank, where he set up a new role as Global Head of Banking and Credit, followed by two years in Geneva as Head of European Offshore Banking, before returning to the UK as COO of the International Private Bank covering Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Robert became the founding CEO of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity in September 2008. The RNRMC is the strategic charity partner of the Royal Navy, established through the amalgamation of over 70 multiple funds and charities. The task was to create a grant-making and fundraising charity, building on firm governance foundations, selling the charity to its key stakeholders, and creating a team, culture and reputation that would allow the Board to deliver its strategy. Over ten years the Charity Group grew to deliver over £50m in grants to beneficiaries, serving, retired and their families. In 2018 he retired from this role and focused on building a portfolio career. In 2019 he completed the Professional Certificate in Coaching at Henley Business School.

He is currently Treasurer of the ADVANCE Study Charity and has been a Governor of The Royal Star and Garter Homes, Trustee of the Forces in Mind Trust, The Officers’ Association and a Director of COBSEO – the Confederation of Service Charities, Veterans Scotland and a Member of the Mary Rose Trust. He is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights and Younger Brother of Trinity House. He was awarded the OBE in the 2017 for charitable service to naval personnel.

Robert lives on the South Downs with his wife Amanda, a specialist teacher and English tutor, and their labrador, Lira.

Robert joined CHIRP as the Executive Director in April 2020.

Stephanie Dykes

Administration Manager & Company Secretary

Stephanie started her career in aviation in 2004 working for bmi British Midland as a Customer Service Agent based at London Heathrow.  After 3 years, she moved to the Flight Training Department based at the Stockley Park Training Centre working as the Flight Training Administrator and was responsible for the administration and organisation of cabin crew and flight crew training.

Stephanie joined CHIRP in May 2012 as the Administration and Cabin Crew Programme Manager.  In October 2018, she was appointed as Company Secretary.   

After returning from maternity leave in August 2021, the role of Cabin Crew Programme Manager was handed over to Jennifer Curran on a permanent basis.

Her principal responsibilities are the smooth running of the general and financial administration of CHIRP.