Peter graduated in Applied Chemistry from the University of Adelaide and worked in production and technical roles in both the Lead-Zinc and Copper Concentrators at Mount Isa Mines Limited from 1970 to 1985. He was then Mineral Processing Research Manager from and the Lead-Zinc Concentrator Manager until 1993, before becoming an "internal consultant" with MIM Holdings Limited for the next 7 years. He started Mineralurgy Pty Ltd, a specialist processing consultancy, in 2000 and since mid-2016 he has been a Principal Consultant with Mineralis Consultants Pty Ltd, providing advice for acquisitions and divestments, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, project evaluations, and commercial support to finance providers and insurance claims.