Rod graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1988 and was appointed Head of Paediatric Services at the ACO in 1994 followed by two years as Manager of Continuing Education.

He was a clinical teacher at the University of Melbourne for 10 years and was for a year President of Optometry Victoria followed by service on the National Board. He has also served on the Board of the ACO, chairing the Clinical Services Committee.

Rod was privileged as an ECO to deliver care to communities in remote Papua New Guinea and later to train Nurse Educators in South Africa, through an AUSAID sponsored program.

From 2013 - 2017 he helped establish the new Optometry Course at Flinders University.

He has directed a practice in Sunbury, Victoria since 2005, working in community with an amazing team of people.

In 2018 Rod received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from the University of Melbourne and in 2020 received the Member Award for Outstanding Service from the ACO.