Robert Common
Chief Executive Officer
Summary
Dynamic Group Chief Executive with over 27 years of international experience in healthcare, mental health, and social service systems. Demonstrated expertise in leading strategic direction, clinical innovation, and business development within a rapidly growing mental health organisation in Cambodia, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Successfully transformed The Beekeeper House from a single-site facility into a regionally recognised provider of integrated, trauma-informed care, while establishing partnerships with governments and global health organisations. Dedicated to ethical, high-quality care and sustainable growth, with extensive experience managing complex donor portfolios and implementing evidence-based practices across diverse, multidisciplinary teams. I have worked in 20 countries globally, including the UK.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Executive Officer
The Beekeeper
01.2019 - Current
- Increased company revenue by implementing innovative business strategies and expanding product offerings with over 70 plus staff in the healthcare sector.
- Built productive relationships with industry partners and competitors to support strategic business objectives.
- Established key strategic partnerships with industry leaders to enhance business development opportunities.
- Cultivated forward-thinking, inclusive, and performance-oriented business culture to lead industry in innovation and push progress.
- Addressed employee and managerial concerns and implemented corrective actions to promote compliance.
- Developed key operational initiatives to drive and maintain substantial business growth.
Owner
S R Ventures
Phnom Penh
05.2019 - Current
- A property business with in excess of $20,000,000 in assets in Phnom Penh and outside. Mixture of residential and commercial property, with property development comprising of a small component.
- F&B - I own two restaurants in Phnom Pehn, each one performs well in spite of market hardening recently.
- Both segments are managed for me, with close oversight from me.
Senior Associate Consultant
Maestral International
04.2019 - 11.2019
- Responsible for leading research into national programs and acting as a project consultant to governments, such as Kenya, Moldova, Sierra Leone, Macedonia, Cambodia, Uganda, Vietnam, and South Africa. This included workforce development, financing, and practice-level competency assessments.
- Managed budgets and resources, ensuring the effective allocation of funds to support research activities and project timelines.
Expert Advisor
Changing The Way We Care
04.2019 - 11.2019
- Expert Advisor to CTWWC, an initiative designed to advise and support governments on social policy and reform.
- Participated in ongoing professional development programs to stay current with industry best practices.
- Managed risk effectively by implementing strategic asset allocation models tailored to individual client needs.
- Conducted regular portfolio reviews to assess investment performance and recommend adjustments as needed.
Lead Researcher
UNICEF Jamaica
05.2020 - 11.2020
- Lead member of a research team overseeing a formative research programme.
- Created opportunities for knowledge exchange between team members through regular workshops or training sessions aimed at enhancing skills or promoting interdisciplinary collaboration.
Lead Researcher
USAID
04.2020 - 10.2020
- Led this national research project on mental health in Cambodia.
- Mentored junior researchers, providing guidance on best practices and nurturing their development as professionals.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
Lead Consultant
Plan International
07.2019 - 09.2019
- Review of the core Monitoring and Evaluation framework and subsequent development a new one.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless execution of project milestones and deliverables.
- Developed custom solutions based upon clients' strict requirements.
Lead Consultant
Phoenix Foundation
04.2019 - 05.2019
- Organisational assessment organisations for a foundation on organisational capacity and operational strengths as part of an overall assessment that contributes to decisions around funding.
- Assessed potential risks during project planning stages, developing contingency plans to mitigate negative impacts on deliverables.
- Streamlined internal processes for better resource allocation and improved operational efficiency.
Senior Technical Director
Save the Children USA
01.2016 - 04.2019
- I oversaw all technical aspects of the Family Care First (FCF) Care Reform program ($20,000,000), working with a team of 22 staff, and ensured programme quality and development to support a collective impact initiative of 35 partners:
- Assess, support, and build technical capacity for over 20 funded partners organisations and across 39 projects
- Led successful efforts to obtain necessary certifications, demonstrating compliance with industry regulations and best practices.
- Evaluated emerging technologies for potential integration into existing systems or future projects.
- Championed continuous improvement initiatives, identifying areas for process optimisation across multiple departments.
Senior Advisor
Frontline Aids
07.2014 - 01.2016
- Management of the network of Alliance Linking Organisations and implementing partners working in the HIV/AIDS across six countries in Southern Africa. This included the successful development of new programs and support for high-quality program implementation. I led the Alliance's strategic direction delivering mulit-million dollar growth.
- Established strong partnerships with key stakeholders through consistent communication and collaboration efforts, promoting mutual success through Public-Private Partnerships.
Executive Director
Childs i Foundation
03.2012 - 04.2014
Director (short-term contract)
EFN
01.2012 - 03.2012
Head of Programmes
Hope for Children
06.2004 - 01.2012
Project Coordinator
Kidukidu Education Program
05.1998 - 06.2000
- Project coordinator for a rural education and livelihood program in Kenya. Responsible for compiling reports, donor development, project accounting and assisting with IT issues and general office support.
Education
Master of Science - Psychology
Lynn University
Ph.D. - Psychology
Herts University
BSc (Hons) - Psychology with Criminology
Master of Arts - Social Work (Advanced Child Protection)
University of Kent
Skills
Friendly, positive attitude
Publications
- Identifying and Addressing Risk in the Implementation of Alternative Care Policies in Cambodia Fronek, P., Common, R., Rotabi, K.S. et al. J. Hum. Rights Soc. Work (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41134-018-0087-y
- Collective Impact to bring about comprehensive care reform: Family Care First , International Alternative Care Conference, 2016, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Common, R. (2020). Human dignity. In J. Fronek, S. Rotabi, & P. Casares (Eds.), Social work in health emergencies: Global perspectives (pp. 167-176). London: Routledge.https://doi.org/10.1177/09075682211036891
- Fronek, P., Rotabi-Casares, K. S., & Common, R. (2021). Intercountry adoption swimming against the tide: Restitution in Samoa. Childhood. https://doi.org/10.1177/09075682211036891
- Adverse Impacts of Institutionalised Care on Child Development in Residential Care and Boarding School Placements: An Integrative Review (2023, in press, University Kent Press).
- Common, R. (n.d.). USAID. Retrieved from https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00XTPK.pdf
- Residential Care for abandoned children and their integration into family-based settings: Lessons for programming and policy’ Infant Mental Health Journal, Vol. 35(2), 144–150 (2014)
Training
- Science of Early Childhood Development professional development course, University of Toronto
- Additional training: Impact Assessment | Mainstreaming Participatory Approaches | M&E for Accountability | Trainer of Trainers, Child Protection, Save the Children | USAID Contract Management & Compliance Course
Section name
I hold British and St Lucian citizenship and residency status in Cambodia and Thailand.
Timeline
Lead Researcher
UNICEF Jamaica
05.2020 - 11.2020
Lead Researcher
USAID
04.2020 - 10.2020
Lead Consultant
Plan International
07.2019 - 09.2019
Owner
S R Ventures
05.2019 - Current
Lead Consultant
Phoenix Foundation
04.2019 - 05.2019
Senior Associate Consultant
Maestral International
04.2019 - 11.2019
Expert Advisor
Changing The Way We Care
04.2019 - 11.2019
Chief Executive Officer
The Beekeeper
01.2019 - Current
Senior Technical Director
Save the Children USA
01.2016 - 04.2019
Senior Advisor
Frontline Aids
07.2014 - 01.2016
Executive Director
Childs i Foundation
03.2012 - 04.2014
Director (short-term contract)
EFN
01.2012 - 03.2012
Head of Programmes
Hope for Children
06.2004 - 01.2012
Project Coordinator
Kidukidu Education Program
05.1998 - 06.2000
Ph.D. - Psychology
Herts University
Master of Science - Psychology
Lynn University
BSc (Hons) - Psychology with Criminology
Master of Arts - Social Work (Advanced Child Protection)
University of Kent
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