Robert Bandeen was born in 1930, in Rodney Ontario.
He completed his BA in Economics and Political Science in 1952.
In 1955 he earned a PhD in Economics from Duke University, and joined the Canadian National Railway as an economist.

Bandeen served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the CNR from 1974 until 1982.

In 1977 he gave a keynote address to the Empire Club.

In 1981 he was appointed Chancellor of Bishop’s University, serving until 1987.
He also served as trustee on the board of Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific.

As a ParticipACTION Board member he was able to obtain funding for the project from such donors as Air Canada and the CNR.

In 1980 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, in recognition of his contribution to the development of transportation in Canada.