Page 1310 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 9 April 2013
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Chris Peters was a tireless advocate for ACT business, a fact recognised by his being awarded Canberra Citizen of the Year. Chris was a man who really made a difference. He was a natural leader, and not only worked for the chamber of commerce, but also for countless community organisations. His success was achieved through enormous work, quiet diplomacy and sheer determination. Many will have known and respected Dr Chris Peters in his public role as the CEO of the chamber of commerce, a responsibility he embraced with enthusiasm since 1997.
Nationally, Chris represented the ACT on the board of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Many, in fact, said that Chris Peters was business in Canberra. He was said to have the biggest business card list of any Canberran. He had an unparalleled understanding of the nature of business and its often complex relationship with government in the ACT, and this served Canberra well. He was very active with the diplomatic community based in the ACT and as a consequence was able to provide invaluable assistance in facilitating international business activity within the ACT and across Australia.
Dr Peters also understood the great importance of education and training in building a strong and vibrant Canberra. He was passionate about vocational education and training. He served as the deputy chair of the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies. He was instrumental in helping establish the Canberra Institute of Technology Vocational College and was a long-serving member of its advisory boards. He was a commissioner of the ACT Skills Commission and served on the ACT Vocational Education and Training Advisory Group.
Chris was generous with his time and mentored many young people with their professional and educational aspirations. Chris was energetic in contributing to Canberra’s growth and enrichment through roles such as with the ACT Business Council, the ACT Insurance Authority default insurance fund, the ACT Accreditation and Registration Council, the ACT Bushfire Recovery Taskforce after the devastating fires of 2003, ACT Planning and Land Authority through its commercial advisory committee, ACT Electric Vehicle Council and the ACT Defence Reserves Support Council.
To help others give back to the community, Chris Peters was chair of Canberra’s GreaterGood Foundation, an organisation created to help individuals create charitable trusts. Chris Peters was on the Australian Federal Police crime prevention group and was an adviser to the ACT Council of Social Service.
Many will also know Chris through his far-reaching and tireless contribution to an amazingly wide range of community activities, particularly connected to his love of music. Chris had a variety of roles with the Friends of the School of Music, the International Music Festival here in Canberra, and the School of Music Foundation. He was an active supporter of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra in all its endeavours in the ACT. He will be well remembered by many for his role in spearheading attempts to broker positive outcomes in the recent concerns of the School of Music.
Chris Peters was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Canberra for his services to business and the community of Canberra. Chris was made a member of the
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