Robert Ridley (AC 72-74) was appointed as Director of Tropical Disease Research (TDR) at the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2004. Prior to this, he held the position of Coordinator, Product Research and Development at WHO/TDR, which covers projects relating to drugs, vaccines and diagnostics. He moved back to WHO following a period as Chief Scientific Officer and CEO for the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), a not-for-profit public private partnership established to discover and develop anti-malarial drugs.  Dr Ridley helped launch MMV from within TDR in November 1999, and for which he helped establish its initial portfolio of projects.

 

His career spans both the public and private sectors. He has an academic background that covers the fields of organic chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology. In 1992 he moved to industry, working for F. Hoffmann-La-Roche Ltd. in Basel (Switzerland), where he was a Vice Director in the Infectious Diseases Drug Discovery department.

 

Dr Ridley first heard about the United World Colleges through his Headmaster at Ilkeston Grammar School “I went to a school where the headmaster was very keen that his students took the opportunity to move to other schools if it was available” said Dr Ridley.  A previous Ilkeston student had won a scholarship to the UWC of the Atlantic and later was invited back to the school to talk about his experiences, so I was aware of the UWC concept. 

 

“Until UWC, my schooling was reasonably normal, I went to the local primary school and was selected to attend the local Grammar School.  Situated half way between Nottingham and Derby, Ilkeston was in a semi-industrial area where people had historically been employed in mining and ironworks. There was a real mix of working, lower middle, and middle class families.  The external environment permeated the school; it was a supportive school with a good strong educational focus.

 

“Following the presentation from the UWC graduate, the Headmaster called me and a few other students into his office and suggested we apply for scholarships that were available to one of two schools, Gordonstoun or Atlantic College. The international aspect of the United World Colleges had appealed to me from the start – I had had an interest in international development, international issues – politics. My parents were Australian and British, not so very different as far as cross-cultural marriages go, but different enough to instil in me more of an international outlook

 

“It was a big deal to move from a regular day school to a boarding school. The concept of attending a private boarding school in my mind was something that belonged to a different class of people.  To leave your family when you are only sixteen, made a big impact, both on me and my family. I arrived at Atlantic College and was shown to the room where I would be sharing with other kids from different parts of the world.  Just meeting and learning all about their different cultures, opened up a completely different world to me, but not just me, it was a new experience for everyone in the room. 

 

“UWC was exciting.  It was the combination of being on your own and mixing with new friends and learning all about each other.  Also the activities you do at UWC, whether outward bound or socially oriented, were different to other schools.  We were one of the first years to study for the International Baccalaureate and the first year where it was the only examination offered.  It was pioneering, but it didn’t feel that way to us, and it didn’t seem to matter when it came to applying to University.  The Universities I applied to all seemed to support what UWC was trying to achieve. The breadth of the IB was really important to me.  I believe I received a better education studying the IB than if I had only done 3 or 4 A levels. 

 

“I am not sure that if I had stayed at Ilkeston I would be the same person today.  After UWC I went to Cambridge University and I am not sure that I would have applied to Cambridge if I had not gone to UWC.  Before UWC, it was beyond my expectations.

 

“The years between 16 to18 are incredibly formative. Experiences and friends you make at that time will always stay with you.   Because of the age you are when you attend a UWC, it can’t but help have an impact.   For me it was extremely positive.  UWC broadened my perspectives on the world.  For me as an Englishman it was equally important to meet the other British students – the Welsh and Scottish - as it was to meet those from Sweden or Botswana.  There were significant cultural differences between us Brits!  My time at UWC gave me the opportunity to develop as a person. 

 

“There are many memories, mostly with your friends - close personal times that you all share.  I remember arriving at college when everything was new and you are meeting new people.  Also the times when you achieve something – either physically such as in beach rescue, intellectually or when you are collectively working together with friends and colleagues.  Above all, the camaraderie and friendships stand out in my mind.

 

“I have been very lucky in the number and types of experiences that I have had – UWC, studying at Cambridge University, working and experiencing living abroad.  I spent three years in Malawi and spent some time in Canada.  I am now working in Geneva at the UN. Malawi was a life changing experience in many ways as I met my wife Agnes there, and we are now part of a growing band of mixed race and mixed-culture families. 

 

"I have always tried to achieve something tangible at each stage of my career that I can pass on to others – something I can leave behind that can be further developed.   Perhaps one of the most significant activities I have been part of was the establishment of a public private partnership to develop antimalarial drugs in 1999 – there was no money in malaria drug research at the time and I was privileged to work with broad array of people and organizations to take it forward through the creation of the Medicines for Malaria Venture. My then company, Roche, allowed me to be seconded to the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) at the World Health Organization. Working through TDR, and being within the WHO, was a huge advantage to leverage the partnerships and launch the venture.  It was during this period that I saw the real potential value of the UN organization and now I have the good fortune to be the Director of the TDR programme. The vision of the programme is 'To foster an effective global research effort against infectious diseases of poverty in which developing countries play a pivotal role', a vision that I hope resonates with the UWC mission. 

 

“For the first time since I graduated, I returned to Atlantic College last year, to give a presentation at the annual reunion.  The College hadn’t changed that much, some of the buildings were different, but I didn’t notice so much difference in the students – it was like looking at yourself 30-odd years ago. 

 

“I admire the UWC ethos of treating people the same regardless of their backgrounds. Whilst the selection and admission is based on merit, once you get there everyone is equal. There should be continuing efforts to advertise and maximize everybody's opportunity to apply to the colleges.”