Grand Master
Derek James Robson, was born in Wellington, New Zealand, in March 1947. He completed early schooling in Victoria before joining the Royal Australian Navy in 1963 as an apprentice at HMAS Nirimba. He trained as a shipwright and later served in various shore establishments including HMAS Tarangau at Manus Island. He also served on HMAS Sydney, HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Stalwart.

Derek was selected for commissioned rank in 1976 and attended courses at the Royal Naval Staff College, London, and the Royal Naval Engineering College Manadon in Plymouth UK, before returning to Australia to complete training as a Marine Engineer Officer.

As a Lieutenant, he served as an Engineer Officer in HMAS Melbourne from 1977 to 1980 before posting back to HMAS Nirimba as Training Development Officer and an exchange posting to New Zealand's apprentice training establishment, HMNZS Tamaki. In 1981, he served as Senior Engineer in HMAS Torrens and in 1982, posted to Navy Office Canberra in the Directorate of Naval Training.

He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in December 1985 and served as the Marine Engineer Officer in the modernised HMAS Derwent prior to returning to Navy Office in 1987 to be responsible for managing ship refit packages. Promoted to Commander in December 1987, he served as Deputy Director Defence Technical Staff, responsible mainly for the storage of fuels and lubricants in and around Australia, and as the Marine Engineer Officer in HMAS Parramatta. In 1989, he became Assistant Director Naval Officers' Postings, responsible for the postings and promotions of all officers up to Commander rank.

He served as Commanding Officer, HMAS Kuttabul 1991-1994 and became the Navy's representative on the working party leading to the very successful Defence Efficiency Review.

November 1994 saw a complete change of career when he was appointed as National Secretary (Chief Executive Officer) of the Returned & Services League of Australia.

In conjunction with his employment, Derek is also the Executive Director of the Australian Forces Overseas Fund, which supports wounded servicemen and provides comforts and amenities to all Australian Defence personnel serving overseas, Chairman of the National RSL Clubs and Licensed Sub-Branch Forum and represents Australia on the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Servicemen's League, providing assistance to all veterans of the Commonwealth. Privately, he is a Director of Operation Care, a company formed to provide holiday respite for families of wounded servicemen following their rehabilitation. He is also a member of the Department of Veterans' Affairs Regional Memorials and Commemorative Grants Committee, and a member of the 'RSL ANZAC of the Year' National Committee.

He has always had considerable involvement in community activities. While a member of the Rotary Club of Kings Cross, he organised the Rotary commitment to the Sydney Harbour Tunnel Walk in August 1992, a project which raised over $400,000 for charity. He served as President of the Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin and was named as a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International in 1993. He has had a long association with national community, welfare and service related industries and has served on many reviews and committees in this sector. He actively supports the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and currently serves on the Committee of the Order of Australia Association (ACT).

Derek is no stranger to international events. He led the RSL National Executive tour to Japan in November 2002 following an invitation from the Japanese Government; represented Australia (along with the Governor General, Major General Michael Jeffery) at the 60th Anniversary of the 'Victory in Europe' celebrations in Moscow in May 2005; headed a 5 km 'Heroes Walk' through the centre of Bangalore in August 2005, with over 15,500 school children, military personnel and National Cadets to raise awareness of the plight of veterans of the Armed Forces of India and especially those who have lost limbs, and spoke at several Private Schools in India on the related issues of respect and understanding. He has represented Australia in veteran related forums in Ghana, Canada, Malaysia and Hong Kong and in 2005 was invited to host the Indian Defence Force Chiefs of Staff at the inaugural 20/20 International Cricket Competition in India.

MW Bro Robson joined Freemasonry on 19 December 1978 in Lodge Prosperity Lewis No 474, then meeting at Summer Hill in Sydney. He is now a member of Lodge Canberra No 465, where he has served the office of Worshipful Master on two occasions, and Lodge Gowrie No 715. He was elected District Grand Inspector of Workings for District 103 in 2000, the Board of Management of Grand Lodge in 2003, Assistant Grand Master in 2004, and Deputy Grand Master in 2009.

MW Bro Robson was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours List.