Robin Cox, B.A., Higher Diploma in Education, is the founder of YES! The organization began in 1987 under the name South African Youth Symposia (SAYS) and changed its name to Youth Empowerment Seminars in 1999. SAYS pioneered multicultural national symposia, which were aimed at bringing young people of all ages together to prepare for the inevitable change of government and the death of apartheid in South Africa. Approximately 6000 adolescents attended SAYS and YES! gatherings over the years. Symposia also looked at the development, through training, of youth Life Skills, which included conflict resolution training. The latter seminars were built around a book written by Robin, On the Wings of an Eagle - a young person's guide to living, now out of print.

Robin taught for 23 years, was a Secondary School Principal for 8 of these years, and was always involved in multicultural education environments. During this time he coached sport extensively at regional and national level, was a boarding housemaster or assistant housemaster (for 18 years) and was involved in a number of community projects. He has mentored (at different levels) about 1000 adolescents from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds.

In 1999 Robin and his family emigrated to New Zealand and, under the auspices of Youth Empowerment Seminars, he ran a series of one day Life Skill workshops for 15 - 17 year old students, focusing on self-image, relationship-building, communication and goal setting skills. Approximately 1000 students attended these seminars, representing 22 Secondary (High) schools.

In 1999 Robin developed a Mentor Training Program for volunteer adult mentors working with students who had been identified with below average self-esteem. He has continued to develop this program alwaysb with a focus on the YES! Mission and Values. He has trained over 700 volunteer adult mentors and run over 60 mentor training programs or workshops. He has also trained Mentor Trainers and developed a training program to facilitate this process.

In addition, in 2004 he completed the writing of a Peer Mentor Program for use in schools, which is based on two Peer Support and Peer Mentor Programs he wrote between 1990 and 2002 and which were piloted at schools he was associated with. These programs were developed around pioneering material written by Elizabeth Campbell in Australia in the 1980s and were developed with her encouragement and support. He has trained many Peer Mentors, as well as some Peer Mentor Coordinators.

Robin continues to develop his mentoring material, as well as writing material to encourage young people to reach their potential. In July 2006 he undertook a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowship visiting youth mentoring and other youth organisations in Canada and the United States of America. He relished the opportunity to network with people passionate about encouraging young people to reach their potential, gather more information about youth mentoring, as well as share his books and personal experiences working in the youth mentoring field.

At the end of August 2006 he accepted a position as Career Transition Manager with the Schools Industry Partnership in New South Wales, Australia, which serves over 40 Secondary Schools in the Penrith, Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury areas of Outer Western Sydney. He delivered presentations to students covering topics such as: how to write a winning Resume; job interview skills; developing a good work ethic; developing Employability Skills and Hot Tips on how to Reach your Potential. He also ran Peer Mentor Training programs and developed the GR8 MATES School Based Youth Mentoring Program, which was piloted at three local High Schools between August 2007 and December 2009 and which included an ementoring component. He also developed a talk: Generation Y2Z: Inspiring Today's Teenagers, which he presented to parent groups, while an adapted version was offered to Teachers. The Schools Industry Partnership Programs, which include organising Work Placements for approximately 3,000 students (who have selected some Vocational Education and Training courses) in their final two years at school, linking industry mentors with schools in Adopt  A School Projects, as well as running conferences promoting Employability Skills and Enterprise and Entrepreneurial skills, are being funded by the Australian government.

Married, with two adult children, Robin moved to Penrith, Outer Western Sydney, Australia in September 2006.

In April 2009 Robin accepted an Associate Head position at an Independent School in Brisbane, Queensland, where he has responsibility for developing the school's pastoral care program and a whole lot more. He and his wife now reside in Scarborough, north of Brisbane.

Personally motivated after recovering from cancer at the age of 10, Robin happily shares his passion to encourage young people to reach their potential with as many people as possible. His interests include most sports, jogging, golf, fishing, reading and hiking (without the backpacks!).