Robert is Deputy Chief Executive at the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment and Head of Kānoa-Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit (Kānoa-RD) previously called the Provincial Development Unit (PDU).

Kānoa-RD manages the $1.2 billion Regional Infrastructure Fund which opened on 1 July. This is in addition to the $4.5 billion worth of investments made over the past 6 years from earlier government funds, including the Provincial Growth Fund, the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, the New Zealand Upgrade Programme and the Regional Strategic Partnership Fund.

Previously, Robert was the Head of Investment Management at the PDU, the team responsible for detailed assessments, analysis, and critiquing of all funding applications, and making recommendations to decision-makers.

Robert has extensive experience in the corporate finance and banking sectors both in New Zealand and Asia. He has held senior leadership roles at Ernst Young, AsiaPower Developments Limited and Lloyds Bank, The National Bank of New Zealand and Southpac.

He has more recently served in senior roles in the public sector, including as Deputy Secretary, Higher Courts at the Ministry of Justice and as General Manager, NZ Petroleum and Minerals at Ministry of Economic Development.

Robert has been a member of the Institute of Directors since 2016.