Rob is Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Auckland where he was head of the Department of Psychological Medicine and also served as head of the School of Biomedical and Health Sciences and deputy dean of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. 

He has been Clinical Director of Mental Health Services for Counties-Manukau District Health Board, Chair of the New Zealand branch of the Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and was the first chair of the Suicide Mortality Review Committee for the Health Quality and Safety Commission. He first came onto the Board of the Anxiety New Zealand Trust in 2007 and has been chair since 2016. 

Rob’s clinical service has included experience on inpatient wards, in community mental health  including with crisis and early intervention teams and he has been consultant to an inpatient rehabilitation unit. He currently has a small private consulting practice.