Peter Baines

Investigating homicides, leading international teams into scenes of crisis and disaster is not your normal path to global keynote speaker and business consultant.  It was this unique path that provided insights into leadership which are so different yet offer relevant reflections and learnings to businesses facing change, growth or challenges of their own.

Peter worked in countries following major crisis including Indonesia, Japan, Thailand and Saudi Arabia.  His grounding came from two decades as a forensic investigator that saw him unravel the mysteries and discover the secrets of criminals thought rested solely with them. Prior to finishing his career as a forensic investigator he would spend time working with both Interpol in Lyon, France and the United Nations Office of Drug and Crime advising on Counter Terrorism and capacity building.

But it was the work in Thailand that brought the biggest change. In response to the needs of the children left without a home or parents he would form Hands Across the Water and commence fundraising in Australia to build them a home. Almost twenty years after starting the charity, he now spends much of his time helping other charity and business leaders on how they can and indeed should benefit from their engagement with their community partners through corporate social responsibility programs.

In 2024, to acknowledge the 20th anniversary of the 2004 tsunami he ran 1400km’s in just 26 days in Thailand averaging 60kms a day in the heat and humidity of Thailand the equivalent of running 33 marathons in 26 days.

When he is not engaged in work, you will find him driving his tractor on the farm where he lives with his wife, Claire, raising cattle and nurturing the ground on which they live.  His other interests that he embraces with a passion is as a helicopter pilot flying at every opportunity he gets and crossing the finish line of ultra marathons with his dogs Burton and Frankie.

In 2025, Peter was identified as one of the top five most influential Australians working in Thailand.

Peter has a number of keynote themes from which he constructs a keynote according to the desired outcomes and audience of each client. Those contextual themes are:

Leadership Matters
* Leadership without Authority
* Importance of Presence in Leaders
* Clarity of Purpose
* Values based leadership
* Results not Excuses
* Building Strong Teams

REVIEWS / TESTIMONIALS

“We thought Peter was success for our event. His story was well received and inspirational and many people came up to the table afterwards thanking Peter and asking more about how to become involved. Notably also, Peter stayed after the speaking engagement concluded to give people a chance at doing that. I received some great feedback from clients in regard to his presentation.”
John Dorward – Prescott Securities 2015

“Peter, I am so pleased that you came and presented to our delegates, you managed to touch each individual in some way. Your stories have so much meaning and the lessons they demonstrate are there for all to see. I have heard you on a couple of different occasions and each time I come away with something new, so thank you not only for the presentation but for the work you do. So thank you once more for your participation, it is greatly valued and appreciated. We hope to work with you again in the future.”
Service Skills Aust, March 2014

“I was overwhelmed by ‘Wow’s’ when listening to Peter Baines present.”
Mingara Leisure Group, March 2014

“Again, a very big thanks Peter Baines for your contribution towards the success of yesterday’s conference. Your presentation was so well received and a great way to open the event! I stayed around for the 2 hour networking drinks after the conference and for the entire time the talk was around how inspirational you were and what a great way it was to open a conference. Everyone loved the “Shared Experience” message and rest assured you have motivated many to find a way to implement such an initiative into their businesses. Well done mate, and rest assured it’s not only the lives of the kids in Thailand that you change, you have a massive impact on all those that hear you speak!”
Game Farm, May 2013

“Thanks so much again for your remarkable presentation today. I am afraid I was still too focused on what you had said to thank you properly at the end so apologies for that. Yours is an extraordinary story of a remarkable person and a fine example of what can happen if you approach life with your “if not now, then when” concept.”
Associated British Food Group, March 2013