Robert Murray Hill

Robert Murray Hill was born in Adelaide on 25 September 1946. He studied at the University of Adelaide and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Law degree. He later went to the London School of Economics where he was conferred with a Master's degree in Law.

He practised as a barrister and solicitor prior to entering politics.

Robert Hill was first Vice-President and then President of the South Australian Liberal Party. He was also a member of the Liberal Party's Federal Executive, 1985-87 and 1990-1993. Hill was elected as a Senator for the State of South Australia for the Liberal Party in 1980 and served as a Senator until 2006.

In 1990, Hill became the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and during those years held posts as Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Defence, Public Administration, and Education, Science & Training. In 2006, he was appointed Permanent Representative to the U.N. for Australia and held this position until 2009.

After returning to Australia in 2009, Hill accepted an appointment at the University of Sydney (Adjunct Professor in Sustainability at the U.S. Studies Centre). There he was involved in the development of Dow's $2m.Sustainability Program (funded by Dow Chemical Co. Fdn.) to enable policy experts from Australia and the U.S. to develop practical solutions to a range of issues relating to sustainability of water, energy, food and biodiversity.

He was made Chancellor of the University of Adelaide in 2010 and completed two terms in this role (2010 - 2014). During his term, Hill was nominated for Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for his service to the Australian Parliament, particularly in the area of policy reform for the departments of Environment and Defence.