Peter Jennings PSM

Peter was for a decade the Executive Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, recognised as one of the world’s top defence and security think tanks.  He left the position in May 2022. 

With a career in defence and security, Peter was Deputy Secretary for Strategy in the Defence Department (2009-12); Chief of Staff to the Minister for Defence (1996-98) and Senior Adviser for Strategic Policy to the Prime Minister (2002-03). Peter led the ‘External Expert Panel’ appointed in 2014 to advise on the Defence White Paper, released in February 2016. Peter was a member of the Australia-Germany Advisory Group, appointed by the Prime Minister and German Chancellor in 2015 to develop closer bilateral relations. He has been a member of the Advisory Group on Australia-Africa Relations advising the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Peter is a columnist for The Australian newspaper, writing on defence and international security, and a frequent commentator in print and electronic media. In February 2016 Peter was awarded the French decoration of Knight in the Order of Legion of Honour. In 2021 he was awarded a commendation by the foreign minister of Japan for services to the Bilateral Relationship.