Andrew Robb AO has qualifications in Agricultural Science and a first class Honours Degree in Economics.
In the 70s Andrew worked as an animal health officer and then as agricultural economist. In the 80s he was Executive Director of the Cattle Council of Australia, and later, Executive Director of the National Farmers’ Federation.
From 1990 to 1997 Andrew was the Federal Director and Campaign Director of the Liberal Party. The highlight of that time was directing the successful 1996 federal election campaign.
From 1997 to 2004 Andrew worked for Mr Kerry and James Packer (leading the digital TV negotiations for Channel 9 in 1997/98), as well as advising major companies around Australia and overseas. During this time he also built an Australia-wide direct marketing technology company, was on the investment team for the Gorgan Gas Project, and was a Board Member of Sinclair Knight Merz, Australia’s largest consulting engineering company.
Andrew has also been a Board Member of the Garvan Medical Research Foundation, the Menzies Research Centre, the Big Brother Big Sister mentoring organisation, a member of the YWCA Leadership group and was honorary Treasurer of the Liberal Party in NSW. He also served as Chairman of the Australian Direct Marketing Association. He is currently a member of the Advance Global Advisory Council.
In 2003 Andrew was awarded the Office of the Order of Australia for his service to agriculture, politics and the community.
Andrew was elected to the Federal seat of Goldstein in October 2004, holding positions as Chairman of the Government’s Workplace Relations Taskforce, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs and then Minister for Vocational and Further Education. In Opposition, he held positions as Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Climate Change, Chairman of the Coalition Policy Development Committee and Shadow Minister for Finance, Deregulation and Debt Reduction.
Following the Coalition victory at the 2013 election, Mr Andrew Robb was appointed to the Cabinet as Minister for Trade and Investment.
In this role Andrew negotiated Free Trade Agreements with South Korea, Japan and China, as well as the 12 country Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Singapore. Additionally he conducted 85 investment roundtables with 28 countries.
Andrew lives in Brighton with his wife Maureen, and has three adult children Tom, Joe and Pip. Andrew is the author of “Black Dog Daze: Public Life, Private Demons” (Melbourne University Publishing).
