- 1965–73
Curator of Anthropology, South Australian Museum. - 1972
Convenor and Editor of the National Seminar on Aboriginal Antiquities in Australia, Canberra. May 1972. - 1973
Commissioned by the Commonwealth to carry out a survey of rock art in Western Arnhem Land, as part of the Alligator River Environmental Fact-Finding Study in the lead-up to the establishment of Kakadu National Park - 1973-75
Deputy Principal, Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies and Torres Strait Islander Studies. - 1975-80
Founding Director, Aboriginal Arts Board of Australia Council. - 1978
UNESCO Regional Seminar on the Role of Museums in Preserving Indigenous Cultures, held in Adelaide and chaired/organized by Robert Edwards. - 1979-85
Consultant to South Australian Government on redevelopment of South Australian Museum (authored the influential "Edwards Report"). - 1980
Founding Executive Director, International Cultural Corporation of Australia Ltd (ICCA, later AEA). - 1982
Coordinated The Entombed Warriors exhibition, breaking attendance records and launching the blockbuster era. - 1982-1996
Advisor, Hong Kong Museum of History, affirming its role in preserving Hong Kong's "disappearing" past and fostering a Hong Kong identity. - 1984-90
Founding Director, Museum of Victoria (attendance increased from 300,000 to 1 million). - 1985-91
Chaired the Council of Australian Museum Directors (1985-87) and the National Cultural Heritage Committee (1988-91). - 1989
Appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for service to conservation, the environment, and museum organizations. - 1990-2000
Returned to role as Chief Executive and Director, Art Exhibitions Australia Ltd (AEA); succeeded as CEO by Carol Henry in 2000, remaining Director Emeritus of AEA. - 1990-96
Chairman, National Museum of Australia Council. - 1997-2000
First Chair of the National Portrait Gallery. - 2002-2003
Consultant to the Culture and Heritage Strategy for the City of Greater Geelong. - 2004-2018
Continued as a consultant to Art Exhibitions Australia. - 2011
Awarded Curator Emeritus from the South Australian Museum. - 2023
Passed away on 22 May, age 93.
