Peter received his PhD in Applied Mathematics from the University of Adelaide in 1987. In 2002 he commenced at the University of Melbourne, shortly after becoming the inaugural Professor of Operations Research. He was Head of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics 2005-10. Peter is the Editor-in-Chief of the Applied Probability Trust Journals Journal of Applied Probability and Advances in Applied Probability and was the Editor-in-Chief of Stochastic Models 2002-18. He is also a member of the editorial board of Queueing Systems.

Peter has held several high-ranking positions, including in 2016, he became Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers (ACEMS). In 2017, he was awarded the Ren Potts Medal by the Australian Society for Operations Research, in 2018 the George Szekeres Medal by the Australian Mathematical Society and in 2019 the ANZIAM Medal.

Peter’s research interests lie in stochastic modelling and applied probability, with particular emphasis on applications in telecommunications, biological modelling, healthcare, economics and disaster management.