After graduating from Haverford College(US) with a BS in Physics in 1989 and from Wayne State University (US) in 1991 with a MS in radiological physics , Roger assumed the role of co-ordinator for the ANC's desk of Science and Technology. In 1995 he joined the Department of Science and Technology as director general, a role he fulfilled for five years. Roger joined Kagiso Media in 1999 as chief executive officer. In November 2006 he became chief operating officer of Kagiso Trust Investments.

Roger is a non-executive director of FirstRand Bank and also served as chairman of the CSIR and the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (NECSA) for six years.