Robert is co-Director of the Menzies Centre for Health Policy and Executive Director of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the Australian National University, Canberra. He works on a range of health policy and systems issues, including primary care, private health insurance, rural health and health workforce. He has participated in national advisory committees on neurosciences research and attracting greater private sector investment in health and medical research.

Robert came to the ANU in 2004 from the Australian Department of Health and Ageing where he had many years experience as a senior administrator in areas such as research, Commonwealth/State relations, health workforce, safety and quality and management of the programs for better management of major diseases such as cancer, diabetes and mental health and rural health programs. He was involved in the establishment and subsequent operations of the Australian Council on Safety and Quality in Health Care and the National Institute of Clinical Studies. He was formerly the secretary to the National Health and Medical Research Council.