Robert Brunt

Born to British parents but raised in the Rub' al Khali desert in Saudi Arabia and the village of Tawergha in Libya, I have lived a somewhat nomadic lifestyle - which I seem to be hell-bent on continuing, having recently lived in Bhutan, South Africa and the Netherlands, all in just 5 years.

Inspired by Bhutan’s concept of Gross National Happiness, I am committed to improving quality of life and social progress for all, beyond the standard economic indicator of Gross Domestic Product.

I believe that people are emotionally affected by their physical surroundings, and feel that people are drawn to aesthetically pleasing products and places of beauty because of the effect that it has on their personal well-being. I would describe myself, as a closet-inventor, passionate about design. I find inspiration for design through frustration and I love to continually question convention and develop ideas and innovations for healthier, happier living.

I have an academic background in ecology and environmental sustainability and fifteen years’ experience of institutional fund raising. I currently advise international development and environmental sustainability organisations on the execution of global business development strategies and in 2013, I helped SNV, the Netherlands Development Organisation, raise over €100 million for poverty alleviation across 37 nations.