Peter is the Macquarie Group Foundation Chair of the Centre for Social Impact, a
cross-university partnership of the business schools at the University of New
South Wales, Melbourne University and Swinburne University of Technology. Prior
to this he was Australia's most senior public administrator, serving as
Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet from February
2003 for five years. Peter was appointed to the AMP Limited Board on 14 May
2008.
Peter was a CEO in the Australian public service for two decades. In 1987 he
established the Office of Multicultural Affairs. From 1991 his positions
included head of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, Public
Service Commissioner, Secretary of the Department of Workplace Relations and
Small Business, and Secretary of the Department of Education, Science and
Training.
Prior to joining the public service, Peter lectured at the University of NSW
before becoming Head of the Department of Economic History in 1985.
He was appointed a Member in the Order of Australia in 1996 and was made a
Companion in the Order of Australia in 2007 for public service.