Peter is an economist who has worked on development issues in Asia and the Pacific for many years. Between 1992 and 1996, he was a member of the ADB Board of Directors, and in 2003–2007 was Dean of the ADB Institute in Tokyo. He was also Co-chair and Chair of Asian Development Fund negotiations from 1999 to 2008. Before joining ADB, he was a professor at the Australian National University in Canberra and Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and Deputy Director General of Australian Aid.