Peter Charlton

Peter Charlton is the Chairman of First Charlton Communications.

"Peter Charlton started his business career in 1957 with Fibremakers Ltd, a division of ICI and became their Export Director in 1968. Whilst in this position, he won numerous awards including the Commonwealth Award for Outstanding Export Achievement in 1971.

"He left Fibremakers in 1972 to become General Manager of SSC&B Lintas Advertising in Melbourne. Early success in this position saw him appointed as Vice Chairman, SSC&B Lintas overseas, in London, in 1974. Whilst in London, he recognised the need to create an Australian Business presence and network for the U.K. and Europe. He founded ABIE (Australian Business in Europe), which is the leading voice of Australian Business in Europe. He is founding President and Life member of this influential body.

"Peter Charlton was approached by McCann-Erickson Advertising in 1976 to run their Melbourne office and in 1978 became National Managing Director and then Chairman and Chief Executive in 1979, and a Senior Vice President of McCann Erickson worldwide.

"In 1985, he established First Charlton Communications, an advertising and media company with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and London. Among the current assets of this group are the News Magazines "Business Asia", "Australian Banking & Finance", “Australian Telecom”, “The Chief”, RIPE an online media for over 50’s and “Australian Society & Events”, publications which circulate extensively in Australia, Asia and Europe. As such Peter Charlton is regularly overseas and in contact with leading world bankers, financiers and corporations.

"First Charlton Communications are also the largest Business to Business events organisers and directors in Australia. In addition to producing their own events and magazines, First Charlton organise and direct The Australian Export Awards and the Best Hotels in Asia Awards in partnership with CNBC Asia, producing over 100 events per year for the corporate sector.

"In 1989, Peter was appointed Chairman of an Australian Trade Mission to Korea led by the NSW Premier, the Hon. Nick Greiner. With the support of the Government of NSW, he became the Chairman of the corporate program " Sydney - A World Financial Capital." This became a major influencer in building Australia’s reputation as a Financial Services Centre, leading to a major presentation of Australia’s expertise, to Wall Street, in July 1999 with the Prime Minister. Peter Charlton used his excellent range of contacts such as Rupert Murdoch, Tony O’Reilly and James Wolfensohn, to promote Australia as a centre for financial services. With the leading finance and corporate organisations of Sydney, he chaired overseas promotion missions led by Premiers Greiner and Fahey in the period 1988 -1993.

"Peter Charlton was elected to the board of the Darling Harbour Authority (1989-1994), the board of the Sydney Institute (1988- current) where he was a founder, and the board of Cosmos Pty Ltd (2001-). He was President of the 500 Club for the period 1985 – 1994 and was Finance Vice President of the NSW Liberal Party from 1993 – 1995. He was elected Chairman of The Australian Golf Club Foundation alongside fellow directors Kerry Packer, Robert Whyte and James Packer in 2002.

"Peter Charlton was appointed the Prime Minister’s delegate for SABAF (Singapore Australia Business Advisory Forum) and was appointed by the Prime Minister as one of three Australian representatives of ABAC (APEC Business Advisory Council) in 2001 -.

"He was awarded, in April 2003 by the Prime Minister, The Australian Centenary Medal for service to Australian society through international business."