Robert comes from a traditional family with a strong European background (British-Spanish). Both his parents are scientists and had international jobs. Travelling a lot as a child gave him the opportunity of living in several different countries.

Robert was educated at British Schools where he studied farming management. As a teenager he worked at several different jobs, among other things as an illumination technician for the most exclusive discotech in Chile. Parallel to this, he ran and administered his family's farm, which is located within the metropolitan area of Santiago. As farming was being displaced by housing he and his wife, Maria Luisa decided to move to Argentina where they started a small business in foreign trade. It was here that they had their first child. By the time their second child was born, they realized the business could be managed from Chile and decided to return.

Upon returning they decided to do something else and went to live on a family farm in the Lake District, founded by Robert's Grandfather William early this century in an area of Chile that reminded his grandfather of his native Scotland. He called it, Caledonia (traditional name of Scotland). The farm was surrounded by native Mapuche families in an area where life hasn't changed for centuries. It is a beautiful place fed by springs and facing a crystal clear lake. The farm was extremely isolated and the only access was by horse. Robert grew a variety of crops, had cattle, horse, swine, chickens and geese. Apart from the kerosene for the lamps the family lived self sufficient. When the children got older it was necessary to move back to Santiago for school.

Robert met Eric Hertz during this transition period on a train to Santiago. When he first saw Eric on the train, he thought he was a German from the south of Chile until learning that he was a river guide, which at the time seemed like an absurd profession. He invited Eric to visit his farm and pointed it out on the map. To his amazement, upon returning to the farm, he found Eric at Caledonia.

He took Eric around the area and as they spent time together, they realized they had a lot in common. Eric Invited Robert on a trip down the Bio Bio River to which Robert agreed, just to be polite.

On the Bio Bio Eric started to teach Robert the skills of rafting. The next year Eric formed his own rafting company and hired Robert to do the logistics. That same year Robert traveled to the States and Canada for six months to train. A couple of years later the business grew and Eric invited Robert to be his partner.

"Over the years I have had the chance to work at something I really enjoy and feel extremely fortunate to work with and meet so many wonderful people."