Deputy Director, Project and Programs Manager, EMI Nicaragua

Professional Training & Experience

Rob is a project manager and chartered mechanical engineer with over 20 years of experience; he worked in building services and sustainability design with consultancy firm Arup before transitioning to project management, forming his own firm, Open Gates Management. His work with Open Gates focused on restoration and development projects for historic churches, predominantly in London. He is a member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in the UK and an Accredited Professional with the green building certification programme LEED.

Ministry Experience

Rob's first experience with EMI was in 2009 as a volunteer on the Prayers Farm Nigeria project, designing the energy masterplan and sizing the energy systems including a biogas digester. He served as a volunteer in Honduras in 2012 and again in Nicaragua in 2019 before applying to join staff in 2020. Rob gave his life to Christ in 2000 and, along with his wife Helen, has contributed to the churches they have attended through small group leadership and various community outreach programmes. Over the years their ministry experience has included leading alpha (a multi-week course providing an introduction to the Christianity faith), bible studies, homeless outreach and leading short term mission trips to Africa and Latin America.

Family

Rob and Helen married in Nottingham in 2008 and have two children, Chloe and Josh. They moved from the UK to Costa Rica in April 2021 to attend language training for 9 months before settling in Managua, Nicaragua, in February 2022. Together they enjoy watching and playing sports, running and visiting the beach whenever possible.