Campbell Roberts is the founder and Director of the Salvation Army's Social Policy Research and Parliamentary Affairs Unit. These operations include running hospices, homecare services, addiction services, sheltered accommodation, employment training and early childhood education. 

Campbell has been a serial social entrepreneur in developing the Salvation Army's welfare and social policy initiatives in New Zealand, as well as being a leader in wider church and community initiatives on poverty and housing issues, and on prison reform. 

In recent years, Campbell helped establish the New Zealand Housing Foundation which is supporting innovative models of providing housing solutions for low-income people. He also co-founded the Rethinking Crime and Punishment Campaign which is working to create a wider change in public attitudes on the prison system.