Institute of Public Administration Australia (ACT) Limited

Peter Chesworth is currently Head of Division, Minerals and Resources at the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. Peter has had a long and varied career in public policy, program administration and governance, most recently Deputy Chief Executive of Universities Australia from 2021-2023, responsible for the organisation’s policy reset and overhaul of its administration.

Prior to that, Peter was a senior public servant for over thirty years in the Departments of Defence, Industry Science and Resources, Prime Minister and Cabinet with carriage of issues including manufacturing, small and medium sized enterprises, naval shipbuilding and the establishment in 2021 of Australia’s Guided Weapons Enterprise.  Peter was previously a member of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources’ Risk and Assurance Committee.  Peter has served in the offices of four Commonwealth Ministers and has appeared before numerous Parliamentary Committees.