Peter Baines

Peter Baines OAM, one of Australia’s foremost leadership experts, has applied his leadership skills in some of the most challenging environments imaginable. With 22 years of distinguished service in the NSW Police, he led teams in response to significant crises including acts of terrorism and natural disasters.

Baines played a crucial role in the leadership team that went to Bali following the 2002 bombings, and in early 2005, he led international teams in response to the Boxing Day tsunami in South-East Asia. Tasked with overseeing operations in Thailand, his role involved the identification of victims, a task that tested his leadership theories under extremely harrowing conditions.

His experiences, particularly witnessing the impact of the tsunami on children who were orphaned, ignited a passion for sustainable leadership and led to the founding of Hands Across the Water in late 2005. This organization, which has raised over $30 million, focuses on creating long-term sustainability for children and communities in Thailand. Under his leadership, Hands Across the Water has provided homes for hundreds of children, supported educational opportunities, and established income-generating projects such as a rubber plantation and a digital learning center in the northeast of Thailand.

Baines's commitment to leadership and humanitarian efforts has been recognized with numerous awards. He received the Order of Australia Medal in 2014 and the Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn in 2016 from the King of Thailand. His other accolades include being a NSW finalist for the Australian of the Year awards in 2010 and receiving the Rotary Professional Excellence Award in 2008. He was also the first NSW Police Officer to be awarded the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal and the Australian National Medal.

Concluding his career with the NSW Police on secondment to the National Institute of Forensic Science, Baines worked on capacity-building projects related to counterterrorism and leadership. He consults on sustainable leadership and corporate social responsibility, serving as Director of International Operations for Hands Across the Water and holding positions on several boards.

In 2023, Baines authored "Leadership Matters: Stories and Insights for Leaders, Achievers and Visionaries," his third book published by Wiley. His previous works, "Hands Across the Water" and "Doing Good by Doing Good," have also contributed to his reputation as a leading voice on leadership and resilience. He remains dedicated to improving organizational leadership and continues his philanthropic efforts through various initiatives, including leading long-distance bike rides in Thailand to raise funds for his charity.