It is with immense sadness that all staff members of UIC Headquarters were informed on Saturday 28 May that their young colleague Alexis Robin, 28 years old, geographer within the UIC’s Data, Statistics and Economics Unit (DSE) passed away.

UIC’s Director General, Board of Directors, Heads of Units and all headquarter staff members want to express their compassion and most sincere condolences to all members of Alexis’s family.

His colleagues and friends at UIC attest:

Our colleague, Alexis Robin lost his fight against cancer on Saturday, May 28th. Alexis held a Master’s degree in Geography and specialized in geographic information systems. He first developed his skills in rail transport and asset management with a consulting company, then joined UIC in 2014 and contributed in setting up the Data, Statistics and Economics unit.

While his professional contributions using geographic tools were needed and appreciated, his open mind and wide range of interests quickly led him to participate in current projects, funded by our Members and by the European Commission. He also authored one project that successfully passed the opt-in, and prepared an EU tender in cooperation with the University of Newcastle.

Alexis also cultivated wider interests in transport, preparing a thesis about opportunities for rail freight in Latin America, for which he spent a full vacation month doing on-site research.

His most outstanding skill was, perhaps, in interacting with people regardless of age, background, or origin. While never shy about debating ideas, he knew how not to hurt the persons expressing them.

Once diagnosed with cancer, Alexis faced his condition with realism and never gave up his trademark humour. Although in pain, he kept smiling back.
As smiles spread faster than disease, he was sure to be a winner.