We were deeply saddened to hear that John Robinson FCIEx (Grad) passed away earlier this year.
John was a widely admired academic and expert in international trade. He served as the Chartered Institute’s academic chair for over a decade, starting in 2007.
Thank you to Nicholas Clark FCIEx (Grad), who knew John for several years through the Institute, for researching and compiling much of the below information. Nick sits on the Institute’s board of trustee directors.
Family man
John was born in Long Eaton, Nottingham, on 6 June 1942 and was the eldest of five children.
He is survived by his wife Monica, whom he married on 13 March 1965. They had two children – Giles and Sarah – and four grandchildren.
In his youth, John was an accomplished diver and represented England at the British Empire Games. He had a reputation for being mischievous and was described by his family as a bit of a “rocker”, even joining a motorcycle gang at one point.
“John was a bit of an adrenaline junkie,” his family has said. “He failed his first driving test for poor indicating and excessive speeding.”
Military background
John’s first career was in the military. Conscription for two years of compulsory National Service was current at the time, but John chose enrolment for a career in the forces as a Flying Cadet at RAF Cranwell in 1961.
He graduated with a commission as a flying officer in the RAF in 1964 and served in a variety of overseas postings – including Cyprus and Germany – as well as at RAF Catterick and RAF Cottesmore in the UK.
He rose to the rank of squadron leader and became an experienced pilot in both military and civil aircraft before retiring from the RAF in 1983, aged 41.
He then worked in a desk role at NATO’s European headquarters.
Entering academia and business
Following his stint at NATO, John went into academia, completing an MSc in environmental pollution control and an MBA at De Montford University in Leicester between 1986 and 1990. It was around this time that he completed his first professional course with the then-named Institute of Export, beginning his long relationship with the charity.
Having gained extensive knowledge in international trade, he began lecturing, tutoring and consulting businesses. This included working with the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, the UK Space Agency, the Institute of Export and through his own company, Full Circle Environmental Management Ltd.
His company tapped into his interest in the environment and pollution control. Its successes included matching up companies that had by-product waste with others that could use it. Examples include bubble wrap from a plastics company being used by a packaging firm and old newspapers from WH Smith being sent to a company that could use them for insulation.
He also lectured at New College in Nottingham (now Nottingham College) on international marketing and business ethics as part of its business studies bachelor’s degree and on its economics foundation course for foreign students. He also delivered the Institute’s professional course in night classes at Nottingham.
From 1993 until his death, he ran a small agency specialising in UK export practice and training. He was also an accredited export trainer with the British Chamber of Commerce.
John’s contribution to trade
John became a graduate member of the Institute after completing his professional courses in the early 1990s.
He went on to become involved in the charity’s educational committees, while also working for the Institute as a trainer and exam moderator. He became chair of the Professional Qualifications and Examination Board (PGEB) in 2007. During this time, he submitted a report to the Institute’s council in 2009 which had significant impact on how the Institute delivered its educational programmes at the time.
He was a dynamic presence at a crucial time in the development of the Chartered Institute’s professional courses. The way in which the courses were delivered was moving away from being college-based to being increasingly done in-house at businesses or online, which John helped to facilitate.
Following a revision to its Articles of Association in 2014, the PQEB was replaced with the Academic Board. John continued to serve as this new board’s chair from 2014 to 2019. Even after stepping down after 12 years in the role, in its different guises, he remained involved as an education advisor to the board of the new export control profession that the Institute established.
Recognition
His contributions saw him become a fellow in 2011. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Institute in 2018, at that year’s Graduation Ceremony, in recognition of his “tireless work leading the Institute’s academic contribution to UK trade”.
He died on 17 January 2024, aged 81, at his final home in Castle Donnington near the East Midlands Airport – reflecting his interest in flying and his lifelong association with the East Midlands.
John as remembered by those that worked with him
He is fondly remembered by colleagues for his vast knowledge and wisdom around international trade.
“When I first joined the Academic Board, John was extremely welcoming and helpful, and I was impressed by his extensive knowledge of all things international.”
Dr Sharon Loane, senior lecturer at Ulster University’s Business School and chief examiner at the Chartered Institute
“John became a very dear close friend… I first met him in 1997 when I started studying at night school in Nottingham. He was a happy man who made studying an absolute pleasure. Even as a trainer he would deliver his courses with enthusiasm and have many anecdotes about his time in the air force.
“He was a worldly man with a wealth of knowledge of many things that he could share and help to put study into perspective.”
Sue Wright, managing director of Exporter Services Ltd.
“I was fortunate enough to have had the pleasure of working with John. What impressed me most was John's knowledge across a range of different areas of international trade, from export marketing to operational aspects such as logistics and Incoterms.
“I am very grateful to John for sharing that wisdom.”
Kevin Shakespeare FCIEx, advisory services director at the Chartered Institute
“He was always very presentable and very professional – you would never see him without a shirt and tie and suit on – and he was incredibly supportive of the Chamber, and rarely missed any of its events.
“He was an important player in the organisation and contributed a heck of a lot to everything he was involved in.”
Kevin Harris, chair of the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce