After working in the construction industry as a civil engineer and builder from 1967, Robert Hunt has practised as a lawyer and dispute resolver since 1983 in international and domestic disputes, usually in construction, engineering, marine, mining, commercial and intellectual property matters.
He is a Past President of the Institute of Arbitrators & Mediators Australia (IAMA), and is a Director of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA). He is a Life Fellow, a Grade 1 Arbitrator and accredited as a Mediator (NMAS) and Adjudicator by IAMA, as well as being a Fellow and on the Panel of Arbitrators of ACICA. He is also a Chartered Arbitrator on the London Panel of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, as well as being a member of numerous other dispute resolution panels in Australia and overseas. He has been particularly active in promoting prompt and cost-effective resolution of technical and commercial disputes, and has spoken on this topic at various Conferences in Australia and overseas.
Robert has been a National Councillor of IAMA since 1998 and a member of the NSW Chapter Committee since 1997. As well as being National President of IAMA from 2000 to 2002, he has been a member of the National Executive from 1999 to 2002, Chairman of the Education & Professional Development Committee from 2000 to 2003, Chairman of the Journal Committee from 2000 to 2005, and has been a member of the Practice Notes Rules & By-laws Committee and the Professional Affairs Committee.
Robert 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, and was a co-author of the IAMA Workplace Relations ADR Rules 2006 and the IAMA Arbitration Rules (incorporating the Fast Track Arbitration Rules) 2007, and has written various IAMA Practice Notes. He is the author of 'Establishing the Basis for Arbitration and ADR' and 'The Trade Practices Act and Associated Legislation' in A Guide to Arbitration Practice in Australia (University of Adelaide), and many published articles on arbitration and ADR in Australia and overseas.
He also drafted the Rules of the Australian Seed Federation Dispute Resolution Scheme for the Domestic Trade in Seed for Sowing Purposes and for the Management of Intellectual Property. In June 2005, Robert was appointed to the Trade and Arbitration Rules Committee of the International Seed Federation.