Having in 1978 been appointed an Associate Commissioner of the Public Transport Commission in 1982, at 36 years of age, Hill was appointed as the chief executive of the State Rail Authority, serving until 1987. He remained as a director of the State Rail Authority until 1997. Hill served as chairman and managing director of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 1987 to 1995, head of Soccer Australia, chairman of Sydney Water, director of the Australian National Airlines Commission and Chairman of CREATE, a national organisation responsible for representing the interests of young people and children in institutional care. A former North Sydney rugby league junior, Hill was president of the North Sydney Bears Rugby League Football Club between 1989 and 1992. He was instrumental in the eventual ban on cigarette sponsorship of the game.