Peter Thompson

Peter Thompson is a broadcaster, educator, author and communication consultant. He presented ABC TV’s Talking Heads – intimate conversations about the lives of prominent Australians – for six seasons and was the voice of ABC Radio’s AM and Radio National Breakfast for fourteen years.

Peter’s passion for communication extends far beyond broadcasting. He is a Fellow of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government where he teaches executive programs in communication strategy and adaptive change, risk and crisis communication and behavioural change.

Peter is a highly experienced keynote speaker at conferences and executive educational programs on topics such as leadership, communication strategy, risk and crisis communication and behavioural change.

He is also in demand as a facilitator/interviewer and Master of Ceremonies at conferences, community meetings, conventions and awards nights.

Peter is Director of the Centre for Leadership which works with the public, private and not-for-profit sectors on communication strategy and practice. Its services include media and presentation training and creating Hypotheticals as feature corporate events.

He was presented with the prestigious University of NSW Alumni Association Award for Achievement for his involvement in the community campaign that saved Tasmania’s Franklin River from hydro-electric development. He wrote two books on the issue, Power in Tasmania and Bob Brown of the Franklin River, and was closely involved in developing and implementing the successful campaign strategy.

His other books include Persuading Aristotle and The Secrets of the Great Communicators, which became a bestseller.

Peter Thompson holds a Master of Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management and an Arts degree in politics and history from the Australian National University.

Peter is also an Adjunct Professor at Macquarie University’s Department of International Communication.

Peter’s warm, intelligent and interactive style makes him popular with corporations, organisations and audiences of all types.