Initiatives for the Development of Enterprising Action and Strategies

Peter refers to himself as a community enthusiast and social capitalist. He is motivated by the desire to help create caring, healthy, inclusive, connected and enterprising communities, where all community members feel ‘they matter, belong and can contribute’, and where communities discover and mobilise their strengths and transform themselves.

Peter has had a background as a youth worker, teacher, youth education officer, tertiary lecturer and senior public servant. His employment experiences have included Director of Employment in Western Australia, Manager of the Community Employment Development Unit in New Zealand, Coordinator of the Natal KwaZulu Job Creation and Enterprise Strategy in South Africa and international youth and employment adviser to 26 countries in Africa, Pacific, Middle East, Asia and Europe. 

Through his organisation, the Bank of I.D.E.A.S (Initiatives for the Development of Enterprising Action and Strategies), Peter has worked with over 2500 communities across Australia, New Zealand, Southern Africa  and North America and undertaken work assignments in 59 countries helping communities spark their own ideas and invest themselves in building sustainable futures.

In recognition of his community and local enterprise building initiatives, Peter received a Centenary Medal in 2001, acknowledged as the Senior West Australian for 2017 and awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the 2019 Queens Birthday honours.