Peter has a BSc in Mining Engineering from Nottingham University, UK and an MSc from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. Peter started his mining career with the National Coal Board in the UK and also later worked seven years as a project manager with the South African Chamber of Mines Research, mainly investigating coal mining techniques. In 1982, he joined DeBeers and was seconded to Angola as a mining engineer working on the state-owned diamond mines. After this period with DeBeers Peter has spent many years in Angola running various diamond operations as operations manager. In 1992 he was one of the initial six employees of ITM Mining Limited who established mining operations after the curtailment of the civil war in Angola. The company grew to become one of the largest revenue producers in Angola. Peter then spent seven years as Director do Projecto for Sociedade Mineira do Lucapa, an ENDIAMA state controlled diamond mining company.  Peter is currently an executive director of Maelgwyn Mineral Services Africa (Pty) Ltd and also the Managing Director of Greenhills Technologies International Ltd.; a private company looking to develop mining and processing projects in Europe.

Peter lives on the coast between Lisbon and Cascais in Portugal and spends his free time trying to improve his golf handicap.