Resume
Peter dedicated much of his early veterinary career to animal biosecurity and welfare. Much of this work focused on epidemiology, emergency management, livestock production systems and emerging infectious diseases. He spent fourteen years as a field veterinary officer in Queensland, Australia performing disease investigation, surveillance, preparedness, eradication and control functions. This fieldwork was followed by three years in a state government policy role and thirteen years working in the Office of the Australian Chief Veterinary Officer (OCVO) providing both scientific and relevant policy advice about national and international animal health issues.
In 2005, he gained a Master’s degree in strategic foresight from Swinburne University of Technology and this study and personal growth experience opened up a new chapter in his career. Strategic foresight has been defined as ‘the ability to create and maintain viable forward views and to use the insights arising in organisationally useful ways’. It is this approach that underpins his capacity to collaborate across diverse sectors and with a very wide range of stakeholders. He has developed a capacity to view opportunities and threats through a range of lenses by using a number of different frameworks. This inevitably leads to a larger range of strategic options. He actively encourages the application of foresight before developing strategy. Indeed, foresight approaches have underpinned his work focused on building better anticipation, preparedness, prevention, detection and response capabilities.
More recently, his work with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) based in Bangkok focused on the management and control of emerging infectious diseases with pandemic potential, primarily zoonotic influenza viruses. FAO was a key partner under the Emerging Pandemic Threats (EPT) Programme funded by USAID working closely with PREDICT, a programme partner investigating the EID spillover processes at the interfaces between human, wildlife and livestock. Peter’s work with FAO focused on translating and converting technical research-based knowledge into policy and action. Peter was regularly involved in convening workshops of technical experts and then distilling the shared knowledge into reports, policies and activities at country level. The challenges in delivering useful outcomes from such work are much more than technical—they are frequently eco-social, political and financial. His role required that he develop and hone relationship-building skills with a wide range of stakeholders including technical experts and government bureaucrats.
Skills Summary
Experience in applying strategic foresight to a wide range of societal challenges
Experience at the interface of International, National and State interests relating to animal biosecurity and welfare
Highly developed policy skills, with an understanding of Government and funding organisations
Highly developed problem-solving skills with an understanding of the complexities and linkages across agriculture, the environment, human health and animal health
Solution-focused with a track record of delivering results – building networks, developing programs and strategies, and managing staff and resources
High-level communication and advocacy skills with a wide range of stakeholders nationally and internationally
A capacity for building anticipation, preparedness, prevention, detection and response capabilities
A capacity to see the big picture, ask the difficult questions and join the dots
Educational Qualifications
2005 Master of Science in Strategic Foresight (MSc)
Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
1993 Masters of Preventive Veterinary Medicine (MPVM)
University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
1991 Membership (by examination) of the Epidemiology Chapter of the Australian and New Zealand
College of Veterinary Scientists (MANZCVS), Australia
1982 Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc)
University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Professional Memberships
Member of International Association for Ecology and Health
Member of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists
Member of the Public Health Association of Australia
Member of Australian Veterinary Association