Robert Likeman is a graduate of Oxford University, where he studied Classics, Oriental Languages and Medicine. He is a specialist is Obstetrics and Gynaecology, in Tropical Medicine, and in Rural and Remote Medicine. After service in the British Army, he migrated to Australia in 1972. He worked for the Department of External Territories in Papua New Guinea from 1972 to 1979, and was Medical Superintendent of the Womens Hospital in Townsville from 1986 to 1996. He served in the Australian Army as a Reservist and as a Regular Officer for 24 years, and his final posting was as Director of Army Health in Canberra. He was awarded the CSM in 2001. He is the author of five books of military history, and two biographies, and has co-authored a text book of medicine for doctors working in the Third World.
