Bob Immigrated from New Zealand to Australia with his family some in 1984. He has a PhD from Auckland University and was a Professor at Victoria University.

For 11 years he served as a councillor at Wyndham City Council and elected mayor in 2013.

He was awarded the Order of Australia in 2013 for services to the community and to education.

Reflecting his time in Council, Bob listed attending festivals, seeing first-hand the contributions of volunteers, the upgrade of recreation facilities across the municipality, and the replacement of street halogen lights with LED lights, as some of his highlights. Bob also enjoyed mentoring new councillors.