About Peter

Peter is an elected representative of Brisbane City Council, the largest local government in Australia and capital city for the State of Queensland. In the current Council administration Peter holds the office of Chairman, Environment, Parks and Sustainability Committee and is responsible for progressing sustainable development in Brisbane, particularly the natural environment, parks, air quality, climate change, energy efficiency and integrated water management agendas.

Peter was elected to Brisbane City Council in 2007. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Politics and Economics), Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws and was a practising solicitor until his employment as a Councillor in Brisbane City Council, which is a full time role. Peter has previously worked as a sole practitioner in private practice and for the Queensland Government. Peter’s legal skills will be of value to the Board of Healthy Waterways Limited.

As Committee Chairman, Peter identifies first hand with the challenges confronting urban communities and our environment and the opportunities that present themselves to local governments willing to take risks when progressing sustainable development. Peter has been instrumental in driving outcomes to deliver Council’s Vision 2026 and recently had success with the release of Brisbane’s new WaterSmart Strategy, which takes a truly integrated approach to
the management of Brisbane’s water. Peter also currently led Councils CitySmart program and
‘I  BNE’ campaign, which is a sustainability focused community behaviour change campaign and one of the largest ever undertaken by a Local Government.

Brisbane’s goal is to be the most sustainable city in Australia, with a vision developed in partnership with the community - Living in Brisbane 2026. Brisbane is an ‘Australian City for Climate Protection’ Leader and our community and organisational response to water security is world class. Brisbane continues to win national awards for partnerships with our indigenous communities, employment programs with migrant workers, waterway health improvements and for public participation in neighbourhood planning.

In addition Peter, as a local councillor, works with and supports a diverse range of local community groups, environmental groups and Chambers of Commerce, as well as Parents and Citizens associations for schools in the Toowong Ward of Brisbane.

The results and learnings from Peter’s position as Chairman Environment, Parks and Sustainability Committee (with integrated water as a major Council Program under his control), and his experience as a local Councillor and solicitor will be of particular relevance to Healthy Waterways Ltd in delivering the SEQ Healthy Waterways Strategy and Program of Works, to improve sustainable water management, deliver regional waterway health improvements and to build ongoing community capacity and involvement.