Bob has a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Economics from the University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia and a teaching Diploma from Armidale Teachers' College.
Bob worked in the field of education for some years, teaching in both Australia and Canada. He also lectured in Education at the Wagga Wagga Teachers' College, Australia.
In the late 1960's Bob joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and served as Australia's Trade Commissioner in Nairobi (Kenya, East Africa), Beijing (China) and San Francisco (USA).
Bob has had many years of experience in the commercial field and has travelled extensively in the Americas and the Asia/Pacific region for the past 30 years.