PROFILE
Peter Baines OAM, is one of Australia s leadership experts having road tested leadership the hard way. Peter spent 22 years with the NSW Police leading teams in response to acts of terrorism and natural disasters on a scale not previously seen.
Peter was part of the leadership team that responded to Bali after the bombings in 2002 and was called in 2005, to lead international teams in response to the Tsunami of December 26, 2004 in South East Asia. Peter headed up multiple rotations into Thailand leading international teams in the identification process of those who died. All the time his leadership theories were tested in this trying environment.
Creating sustainable leadership became a passion of his after witnessing the devastating effects of the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. He was deeply touched by the number of children left without parents by the disaster and was inspired to set up an organisation that could make a significant difference in the lives of these children. In late 2005, Hands Across the Water was formed to raise funds for, and awareness of, the children of Thailand who were left alone. Today, Hands has raised over $30 million Australian dollars. Hands, now has operations in seven different locations within Thailand and provide a home to several hundred children every night.
The work of the charity has always taken a different approach to most in that they focus on creating meaningful shared experiences for their supporters. A cornerstone event of the work of Hands are the long distance bike rides that you will find Peter leading throughout the year in Thailand.
His final years with the NSW Police were spent on secondment to the National Institute of Forensic Science where he worked on national and international capacity building projects around counter terrorism and leadership. He spent time advising Interpol in France and the United Nations Office of Drug and Crime in South East Asia. Peter was engaged by the Government of Saudi Arabia following the deadly floods in Jeddah, to review their response and provide advice concerning crisis mitigation and leadership. In 2011 he deployed to Japan in response to the tsunami that would claim thousands of lives there.
Peter has received various awards including an Order of Australia Medal in 2014, for his International Humanitarian work, and in 2016 he was awarded The Fifth Class of the Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn awarded by the King of Thailand.
In 2010 he was a NSW finalist for the Australian of the Year awards and he was the first Australian to be awarded the international honour of a Rotary Professional Excellence Award in 2008. He received the NSW Police Service Medal and the Australian Federal Police Operations Medal, for his work in Asia. He was the first NSW Police Officer to be awarded the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal and Australian National Medal. He has completed university studies in Law, Forensic Science and post graduate studies in Management.
Peter has written three books the latest released in 2023, Leadership Matters published by Wiley. Hands Across the Water was his first book and was published by Pan MacMillan in 2011 followed by and Doing Good by Doing Good, published by Wiley in 2014.
When not traveling for work you are likely to find Peter with his wife Claire on their rural property tending to the Hereford cattle they bred. His other pursuits he tackles with a passion is flying helicopters and running ultra marathons.
In 2024, to acknowledge the 20th anniversary of the 2004 tsunami, he run 1400km’s in just 26 days in Thailand.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Leadership Matters
Experience Matters
Doing Good By Doing Good
The Importance of Balance
Together We Can
During the keynote, Peter will explore the profound story of Hands Across the Water over the past 20 years, growing from a genuine vision into the largest contributing Australasian charity to Thailand. The charity’s work has deeply impacted thousands, enriching lives and fostering lasting change in the communities it serves.
It will highlight the milestones and lives changed along the way, emphasising that these achievements were never the work of one individual. Much like the recent Run To Remember, which may appear as a personal triumph, the reality is that such accomplishments are only possible through the collective efforts of a dedicated community. This message underpins the power of collaboration and shared purpose. Whether it’s running to raise awareness or building an organisation that transforms lives, we move forward together.
Through this lens, Peter’s story becomes a testament to what’s possible when people unite for a mutual endeavour. What emerged from the tragedy of the Boxing Day Tsunami is a legacy of hope, all because one person dreamed, believed, took action, and understood the need for others.
Key Learnings from this new keynote include:
- Action will always beat intention.
- Some things we do are meant to be hard – you can have comfort or growth, choose.
- What we are willing to do is more important than what we are believe we are capable of.
- Whilst our “why” is so important in the most difficult of times we need to focus on the “how”.
- Winning from a spectacular fail.
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