On Demand Executive, Chief Financial Officer, Senior Board Advisor
+61 449 011 623
Peter.Barker@LeadersOnDemand.com
Peter is a senior finance executive with significant domestic (ASX 100) and international (global Fortune 500) experience. He has lived and worked in seven countries over three decades.
He regularly steps into interim CFO and senior advisor roles, bringing extensive experiences from a highly regarded ASX career as the Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary of Cardno Ltd, Chief Financial Officer at Computershare Ltd, as well as senior financial leadership roles at BHP and Cisco Systems.
Peter is particularly skilled in mergers and acquisitions, debt and capital raising, treasury, funds management, investor relations, complex commercial negotiation, risk management, process re-engineering and systems implementation.
His governance experience includes non-executive director and board chair roles with audit committee chair experience.
Career History
Peter commenced his career with Ernst & Young in Brisbane, before moving to Europe, then the USA and Singapore, working in increasingly senior financial roles for listed technology companies Amdahl Corporation then Cisco Systems Inc - ultimately becoming Cisco’s Finance Director for Asia Pacific.
A long-time believer in the Asia Pacific century, and Australia’s position within it, Peter directed his career towards Australian global companies – initially with BHP as VP Finance for Carbon Steel Materials in Singapore, before returning to Australia to become the Group CFO of ASX listed Computershare Ltd, a role that he held for 4.5 years whilst the company went through substantial growth and transformation.
Returning to Brisbane, he was CFO and then CEO of PPK Group Ltd, a niche mining equipment manufacturer – tasked with stabilising the business during the ‘coal recession’. In late 2015 he was appointed CFO of Cardno Limited – Cardno being ASX listed with Crescent Capital Partners having just become their major shareholder. Cardno successfully sold all of its major divisions in late 2021 and Peter finalised his role in shortly after.
Peter now works with Leaders on Demand clients taking interim CFO and senior advisor roles, in addition to developing his board director career.
Leadership Highlights
Cardno Limited – lead the demerger of 40% of the company and then co-lead (with the CEO) the sale of Cardno’s remaining businesses. Lead two capital raisings and complex debt renegotiations. Ultimately executed on a 6-year turnaround strategy for shareholders.
Computershare – managed client funds of $14bn under management driving 40% of profits. Led a team of 400 across 22 countries transforming back and middle office whilst partnering with CEO to lead on multiple acquisitions and debt and investor relations strategies.
PPK Group – Tasked by Chair as CFO then CEO to stabilizing the business in the midst of the “coal-recession”, ongoing development of the group’s intrinsically safe technology and negotiating a JV or investment from a large Chinese coal group.
Presbyterian & Methodist Schools Association – Chair and Non-Executive Director of body overseeing four of Queensland’s GPS schools. Supported schools navigating the COVID impact.
Qualifications
B.Comm University of Queensland, MBA Heriot-Watt University, Advanced Management Program Wharton Business School, FCPA – CPA Australia, GAICD Australian Institute of Company Directors
Sectors
Technology, Engineering, Consulting, Heavy and Technology Manufacturing, Mining, Financial Services
Functions
General Management, Finance & Treasury, Turnaround, NED, Board Chair, Governance
Situations
Crises & Turnarounds, Transactions, Leadership Transitions, Capital Raising, Transformations
Favourite quotes
“Things do not happen. Things are made to happen” John F Kennedy
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” Maya Angelou
“I joined Leaders on Demand...
... to make a difference, simple as that”
“When I'm not at work...
... I am outdoors, preferably kitesurfing or skiing”