Robert Blackburn (educationalist)

As a student, Blackburn was an active member of the United Nations Association, where he met his future wife, Esther Archer.

During this time, he supplemented involvement in the United Nations Association and the Council for Education in World Citizenship with work in refugee camps.

Together they visited many countries, particularly those with Commonwealth links, to establish committees which were to lead to the development of three UWC colleges in Blackburn's time.

Using his contacts, Blackburn also organised charity concerts with line-ups including Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope and Leonard Bernstein.

[4] In 1978 Blackburn became Deputy Director General of the International Baccalaureate Organization, taking on particular responsibility for Africa and the Middle East.