Robertson was born in about 1956 Johannesburg and she studied law at the University of Cape Town.[1] Her early work in South Africa was selling advertising for radio before she left for Europe. She worked for shop companies before she joined the advertising company Havas Worldwide,⋅ where she was promoted to be the global president and UK chairperson.[2]
In February 2010 the first One Young World summit was held in London. The organisation was started by herself and David Jones.[3]
In 2015 she was awarded an honorary doctorate by Lausanne Business School.[4]
In 2019 she and Ella Robertson created the book "'How to Make A Difference: The Definitive Guide From The World's Most Effective Activists". It included contributions from activists Bob Geldof, Emma Watson and the writer Fatima Bhutto.[5][6]
In July 2023 she resigned from the board of "One Young World" after ten years as a trustee but she remained CEO. The Charity Commission had started an enquiry after it emerged that her pay had been £440,000 over an 18 month period while her daughter Ella Robertson McKay had been paid £195,000. Nearly 30% of the charity's income of £7.5m had been £2.2m paid in salaries.[7]