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He was chosen as the 2009 recipient of the Award of Distinction by the members of the Public Affairs Association of Canada for his lifetime contribution to public affairs.
Robin has worked on public policy issues and public affairs issue management since the late 70s. As national director of the New Democratic Party (1974-81), Sears 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 launched the party's first nation-wide qualitative research programmes and its first national direct marketing projects. He 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.
From 1981-85, he 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 he 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 1985-90, Robin served as Chief of Staff to 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, he 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. Clients included Nortel, TV Ontario, Ontario Hydro, Manulife, and Teleglobe Canada.
In 1994, Robin joined Korn/Ferry, the world's leading executive search firm. Named partner in less than two years he managed several regional and global practices for the firm over a decade, first in Tokyo then in Hong Kong and Toronto. He launched and was the first Asia president of the firm's internet subsidiary, Futurestep, for two of those years.
He has served as spokesperson to former Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney for two years. Robin is a director of the Empire Club of Canada, the Churchill Society and a frequent contributor to Policy Options, Canada's leading policy journal, as well as a political commentator on radio and television. He was chosen as the 2009 recipient of the Award of Distinction by the members of the Public Affairs Association of Canada for his lifetime contribution to public affairs.
Robin began his career as News Editor under Moses Znaimer at the launch of City-TV in Toronto in 1972. He attended Trent University, but left to pursue his political career before graduation. He is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business AMP program. He is married to Dr. Robin Harris and father to one son, Matthew.
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