Rob has undertaken general and commercial management roles in a range of industries including telecommunications, computer software development and food and packaging manufacturing. Some of the companies managed over a 20-year period have been in a development and growth phase and others in a decline and rationalisation phase. Rob has shown an ability to adapt to challenging situations and, in consultation with line management, to methodically analyse available options and determine a course of action to be followed to achieve agreed objectives. His financial background combined with many years of company management allows him to bring an experienced and analytical approach to business situations allowing achievement of optimum results for stakeholders in the organisation.

After completing a cadetship with BHP and undertaking a number of management positions with BHP in Melbourne and Indonesia, Rob changed industries in 1979 and entered the dairy manufacturing industry, accepting the position of Managing Director of PT Indomik in Jakarta. This position carried responsibility for all aspects of the manufacturing plant in Jakarta, reporting to the board with overall profit responsibility. During this period, several new products were launched into the Indonesian market, resulting in significant growth in sales and profit.

On returning to Melbourne in 1981, Rob became General Manager of Asia Dairy Industries, with responsibility for trading of dairy products internationally, management of the Melbourne and overseas staff and oversight of the operations of the manufacturing plants in Asia. In this position Rob was responsible for company project development, including establishment of a joint venture ice cream manufacturing company in Hong Kong and investigation of opportunities in a number of overseas countries. The sale of the 50% shareholding in the Indonesian factory was negotiated over several years and included extensive negotiations with government departments, partners and banks together with the resolution of legal action in Australia and Indonesia.

In 1987 Rob left Asia Dairy Industries and joined Lomah Corporation. The position of General Manager Development involved deciding on the most appropriate action to be taken for several business segments and reviewing available opportunities for expansion of the business. This included becoming Managing Director of a confectionary manufacturing company that was eventually sold to a competitor.

Rob joined Smorgon Fibre Containers in 1988 as Commercial Manager Victoria. This position carried responsibility for the commercial activities of three cardboard box manufacturing plants in Melbourne.

In 1990 Rob joined Catsco Pty Ltd as Commercial Manager. The company manufactured a range of telecommunications hardware and software products as well as developing a range of computer-based products. The business was sold to TransMit Pty Ltd in 1992 and Rob became Managing Director. The company completed the design of the new software products and successfully launched them into the Australian market in 1993. These products have now been established as a market leader in the network management sector of the telecommunications industry.

Rob became sole owner of TransMit in 1998 after a management buyout. The company operated profitably to 2001 when it was sold to an American company wanting to establish a base in Australia.

In the last five years Rob has assisted many clients to improve and expand their businesses through a process of assessing the market potential for the product or service, defining problems and barriers to success, developing solutions and setting out a clear direction for the owner. Industries in which mentoring assignments have been conducted include food manufacturing, newsagents, tourism and hospitality, landscaping, retail, entertainment, internet marketing, software design, event management, water sports and plant nurseries.