Professor Hook is a biochemist by training holding a M.Sc. in chemistry, a Ph.D. in biochemistry, and a D.Sc. in biochemistry (by examination) all from Victoria University of Wellington. He worked abroad for close to 35 years, with 31 years at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in the USA. His career has been spent as a scientist, editor, and educator. For most of his life, he has been a research biochemist running a research laboratory at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. He has published around 150 research publications. His educational experiences are also extensive. He was the CEO of Te Whare Wānanga ō Awanuiārangi in Whakatane for over 4 years, having recently resigned. Previously, he has been an adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an Assistant Professor at Duke University Medical Center, and a Lecturer in Biochemistry at the University of Wales in Cardiff, United Kingdom as well as a Junior Lecturer in Chemistry at Victoria University of Wellington. Also, he is currently an adjunct Professor at Victoria University of Wellington.