Rolfe Hartley has over thirty years' experience in civil and environmental engineering and project management. He graduated in civil engineering from the University of New South Wales in 1974 and holds postgraduate degrees in transport engineering from the University of NSW and in infrastructure planning and management from Stanford University, USA.

Rolfe commenced his career as an airports civil engineer with the Australian Department of Civil Aviation, where he worked on and managed major airport developments. He moved to the Department of Defence in 1987, where his career included a period as the Department’s Director of Environment and Heritage. In this role, he guided the introduction of environmental assessment and management practices into the Australian Defence organisation.

He joined Kinhill Engineers, now Kellogg Brown & Root, in 1995. There he managed facilities project and operational services provided to a range of Australian Government clients.

Rolfe retired from KBR in March 2007 and subsequently undertook part time engineering project and contract management for an ACT Government agency. He is now retired.

Rolfe has been active in Engineers Australia since shortly after graduation. He was President of Canberra Division in 1998 and subsequently served as Canberra Division’s representative on the National Congress. He was elected a National Vice President in January 2003 and National Deputy President in November 2005. He was National President of Engineers Australia in 2007.

Rolfe has served as Commissioner for Ethics and Discipline for Engineers Australia and is Past Chair of the National Engineering Registration Board. He also serves as a member of the Anti-Corruption Technical Standing Committee of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations. He is a member of Engineers Australia’s Canberra Division Engineering Hall of Fame. Outside of this, he is Chair of the judging panel for the Keep Australia Beautiful Sustainable Cities Awards in the ACT. He is also a voluntary guide at the Australian War Memorial.