Rob has been a Research Fellow at the Australian National University since 2010 following a long career in the Australian Public Service where he worked on many aspects of social policy including social security, employment, housing and residential care. In recognition of his work, in particular with regard to the analysis of poverty in Australia, he was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2010. His work in both the public service and at the ANU has had a strong quantitative focus. His research interests continue to range across many aspects of social policy including its relationship to the economy and its impact on well-being. This has included work on the interaction of the tax transfer system and the role of the Australian minimum wage, wealth and debt in retirement as well as income distribution and social outcomes. He has also undertaken a range of commissioned research projects for a number of Commonwealth government departments, including on the evaluation of income management.