Robert Hunt initially qualified as a civil & structural engineer, and worked in a variety of positions (from foreman to managing director) in the construction industry from 1965 to 1980, prior to his admission as a barrister in 1983.

Since 1983, Robert has practised as a barrister in New South Wales, Victoria, Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory of Australia, in building, engineering design and construction, marine engineering, professional liability, property damage and general commercial and contractual disputes ranging in value up to approx Aus$100 million.

Since 1985, he has also practised as an Arbitrator, Court-appointed Referee, Expert Determiner / Appraiser or Mediator in building, engineering design and construction, marine engineering professional liability, property damage and general commercial and contractual disputes, ranging in value up to approx. Aus$75 million.

Robert is the Immediate Past National President of the Institute of Arbitrators & Mediators Australia (IAMA), and is a director of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA).

As well as being a Grade 1 Arbitrator and an Accredited Mediator with the Institute of Arbitrators & Mediators Australia, he is a Chartered Arbitrator on the London Panel of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and is a member of numerous other dispute resolution panels in Australia and overseas.

Robert has been particularly active in promoting prompt and cost-effective resolution of technical and commercial disputes, and has spoken on this and other topics at a number of Conferences, and published a large number of articles, in professional journals in Australia and overseas.

He also drafted the IAMA Rules for the Conduct of Commercial Arbitrations (incorporating the Expedited Arbitration Rules) 1999, the IAMA Expert Determination Rules 2001, the IAMA Mediation and Conciliation Rules 2001, and the IAMA Industry and Consumer Scheme Rules 2001, in addition to writing various IAMA Practice Notes and being one of the authors of "A Guide to Arbitration Practice in Australia".