John Alastair Douglas Robertson was born in Australia in 1942. He was educated at Haberdasher’s Monmouth School for Boys, Monmouthshire, UK, from 1952-61, and gained early experience in the construction industry, working for G. Wimpey and Co. in Cardiff. In September 1961 Alastair enrolled in the five-year Diploma course at the Architectural Association (AA), London. After a break from his studies in 1965-66, Alastair returned to the AA for his Fifth-Year and elected to study within the AA’s Department of Development and Tropical Studies, thus gaining both an AA Diploma and a Certificate in Tropical Studies. His final thesis study was entitled 'Singapore Study - A Study of the Implications of Urban Renewal in Singapore'. Upon leaving the AA, Alistair attended the Manchester Business School where he gained a Diploma in Business Administration (1968-69). However, he was soon to return to the AA and was appointed the Director of the Professional Practice programme, which he was to run from 1971-2015. Alongside this position, Alastair worked as a Senior Partner with QWest Consultants, from 1991, and as a Partner for QWest Properties from 1995. Other roles include CEO/Chair of 5S Consulting (from 1995) and as Director of Development at Skillspassport.org.

 Sources

• Architectural Association Student Register, 1945-71. AA Archives
• Architectural Association Diploma Roll, 1966-67. AA Archives.
• Architectural Association Student Records, 1960s, Registrar’s Office. AA Archives.
• Alastair Robertson, Facebook Page. Accessed 2nd December, 2025: https://www.facebook.com/jethrotyrwennol/?locale=en_GB