Robert Sarner is a Toronto-based writer and communications specialist currently working with several clients. Most recently, he served as the Senior National Director of Communication and Programming at Canadian Friends of Hebrew University. For 13 years until 2017, he was the Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Roots Canada where he was responsible for internal and external communications, media relations and corporate social responsibility.
Previously based in Jerusalem, he worked as a Senior Editor, Reporter and Anchor on Israel’s only English-language nightly TV news show from 1992 to 2004. Before that, he was Editor of The Jerusalem Post’s weekly magazine. He also wrote about current affairs for both Israeli and foreign publications, including a monthly column from Jerusalem for the Canadian Jewish News for many years. In addition, he did freelance radio reporting and film and video narration.
From a young age, Robert demonstrated a strong interest in media. When he was in high school in Toronto and junior college in Switzerland, he was an editor, writer and photographer for various yearbooks, and later worked as a layout artist at a city arts/leisure magazine. He began his journalistic career in Toronto as an editor and writer on a national weekly. In 1979, he moved to France where he first worked as a freelance writer for Canadian and French publications before being selected for the Paris-based ‘Journalists in Europe’ year-long fellowship program.
In 1981, Robert founded Paris Passion, an English-language city magazine of which he was the Editor and Co-Publisher until 1990 when he moved to Israel.
During his career, Robert has created and edited many customized publications for different companies and organizations, and taken on myriad assignments and special projects that have called on his expertise in media and communication. With his rich professional experience, he’s also participated as a speaker and panelist at conferences and courses.
Robert, who lives in Toronto, is married to Galya Sarner. They have three children – Aviv, Shani and Etye.