One of the most important things we do in Newmarket Rotary is to have our new members give Vocationals to the members of the club they have joined.This enables members to get to know their colleagues better. This week it was the turn of Robert Lee to give us his vocational.
Robert was born in and in his early years educated in Fiji.
He then spent years 12 and 13, the old 6th and 7th forms at Westlake boys on Auckland's North Shore. To get to school Robert would catch the bus from his flat in Grey Lynn to Westlake every day. As he was flatting with students in Grey Lynn he enjoyed life and managed his time sufficiently to pass without excelling. Robert noted that at Westlake one of his teachers noted in one of his reports that "his marks reflected his enthusiasm for his studies".
Robert attended university in Auckland after leaving school and continued his laid-back approach to education that he had adopted at Westlake. One of his lecturers was Liz Hickey now a senior member of the accounting profession who suggested that he had some ability as an accountant and should actually work hard. With that prod and a an encounter with Hugh Fletcher, Robert decided that he better extract digit and started working at his studies.
The consequence of Roberts application to his studies was that his marks were sufficient to enable him to undertake post-graduate study in the United States. Robert applied to a number of Universities and initially attended the University of Chicago and then later on Northwestern University. It also happens at Northwestern University in Chicago is home Rotary International.
Before he could get deeply into his studies Robert was called back to Fiji to work in his families business which he did with some success. He became involved in government affairs in Fiji, he became president of both the Fiji Manufacturing Association and the New Zealand Fiji Business Council. When Robert was chair of the Fijian branch of the NZ Fiji Business Council his opposite number in NZ was Harold Titter of one of our members.
Amongst other things in this period Robert chaired Fiji Telecom until his role was terminated by the Fijian Government.
After being offered a place at Georgetown University and offered a Fulbright scholarship Robert returned to the United States and studied at amongst other places Harvard, MIT Sloan School of Management.
After completion of his degree Robert returned to Fiji to meet what he considered his social obligation to that country. He became a policy adviser for the Fijian Government for a period of two years then packed his bags and went to China. He stayed in China for the next 20 years in a variety of roles mainly market advisory for various entities. Robert commented that he trained a lot of people in China who once trained promptly set up in competition to him. One suspects from Roberts comments that sort of thing made life rather interesting from time to time. More recently Robert has been advising the Fijian Embassy in China about engagement with the Chinese.
Robert and his wife Jeanette have now settled in New Zealand and are building a new home and are waiting for the building consent come through. Robert Is in no rush to see what he can do in New Zealand as he Jeanette and the daughter are settling in
In relation to his Rotary involvement Roberts focus is on youth and generally supporting the clubs activities.
Once again welcome to the club Robert. Thank you for an interesting vocational.