Robert Hawkins was elected to the 15th Legislative Assembly on the 24th of November 2003 and re-elected to the 16th Assembly on October 1, 2007.

In 1977, Mr. Hawkins moved to Fort Simpson from Fredricton, New Brunswick.  In 1987 he moved to Yellowknife to attend school at Sir John Franklin High School where he lived at Akaitcho Hall until 1990 and has resided in Yellowknife ever since.

Mr. Hawkins continued his education at SAIT where he graduated with a Mechanical Engineer Technologist diploma in 1998.

Upon returning to Yellowknife, Mr. Hawkins became involved in politics with his election to the Yellowknife City Council in 2000. At the end of his term on city council, he ran and won a seat in the territorial election representing the riding of Yellowknife Centre.
 
Mr. Hawkins has been married to Susan since 2000 and together they have two sons: McKinley and Hudson.