I undertook a Bachelor of Science degree at UNSW majoring in Theoretical Physics and Applied Mathematics, graduating with Hons I and a University Medal in 1981. I then undertook a PhD in Theoretical Physics at UNSW under the joint supervision of Jaan Oitmaa (Theoretical Physics) and Alec Opie (Applied Mathematics) and graduated in 1985. In took up a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Waterloo, Canada, under the supervision of John Grindlay for three years, 1984-1987. I followed this up with a School Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering, 1987, 1988. I was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship, 1988-1990 before taking up an appointment as Lecturer in Applied Mathematics at UNSW in 1991. I have now been there for more than twenty years and have been promoted to Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor and Professor. I have been Head of the School of Mathematics and Statistics at UNSW since May 2012.