Peter Baines served with the New South Wales Police for 22 years. He led teams responding to acts of terrorism and natural disasters on a scale not previously experienced by Australian police.
Becoming a specialist in forensic crime scene investigations, he was called upon to bring his skills to the Bali Bombings in 2002. But it was the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami that forever changed the direction of his life, helping the people of Thailand identify their dead. He then met the countless children left behind with nowhere to go.
In late 2005, he founded Hands Across the Water to raise funds for awareness about the orphaned children of Thailand.
In his final years with the New South Wales Police, Peter spent time on secondment at the National Institute of Forensic Science, building projects around counterterrorism and leadership.
He advised Interpol in France and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Southeast Asia. He also worked in Saudi Arabia and Japan, following disasters that had fallen upon those countries.
Since 2006, Peter has been routinely travelling the globe, sharing stories and learning lessons along the way. Peter has been fortunate to speak as a keynote speaker in the US, Europe, and Asia. Speaking allows Peter to mix something that is a deep privilege: to stand on a stage and share stories with the charity work that now occupies so much of his time.
He has raised over 30 million Australian dollars to date; they have built several children's homes across Thailand, purchased a rubber plantation to create a sustainable regular income, constructed a community centre in the Cadillac region of Thailand, and a digital learning centre in the Northeast.
The charity now has operations in seven different locations in Thailand. It provides a home for several hundred children every night, but it focuses on the children's long-term future and the communities in which they live.
They have also supported more than 30 children through university, all of whom have graduated and look forward to a life of choice rather than chance.
Peter has received various awards, including an Order of Australia Medal in 2014 for his international humanitarian work. In 2016, he was awarded the Fifth Class of the Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn by the King of Thailand.
He was the New South Wales finalist for the Australia of the Year in 2010, the first Australian to be awarded the international honour of the Rotary Professional Excellence Award in 2008, and medals from the New South Wales Police Service and the Australian Federal Police Operations work in Asia.
Peter and his wife, Claire, have three adult children and one grandchild; they divide their time between their farm in Cap Tree Valley and Terrigal. Peter has written three books, Hands Across the Water, Doing Good by Doing Good, and Leadership Matters.
Personal Identity Versus Public Persona
When asked how Peter Baines sees himself - as simply Peter Baines or as the brand of Peter Baines - he acknowledges the multifaceted nature of identity.
Peter recognises the many "different levels and layers" that make up his sense of self. However, he delineates between his identity and the public brand tied to his charity work.
As he clarifies, "I think of myself as me. But I also acknowledged that at times it needs to be about the brand, and when it needs to be about the brand, it is when I'm putting my hat on for hands across the water."
When representing Hands Across the Water, Peter consciously adopts the brand of "Peter Baines, Charity Founder and Director."
Outside of that, he feels less attached to personal branding in his day-to-day life. Still, Peter acknowledges that his actions remain connected to and reflective of the charity he built.
How People Perceive Peter
Peter Baines believes that perception is often coloured by context.
He goes on to note that in professional settings, people likely attach certain labels to him based on his work - whether as a speaker disseminating key lessons from his experiences or as the founder of Hands Across the Water, the charity he established in late 2005 to support Thai orphans in the wake of the 2004 tsunami.
However, Peter feels that those in his inner circle see him for who he is at his core - not necessarily focusing on his credentials or past roles.
Peter recognises that the way others view him shifts across contexts, from close friends to those encountering him in a professional arena. But regardless of their vantage point, he hopes that sincerity and authenticity shine through.
Balancing Police Work and Charity
After founding Hands Across the Water in late 2005 to support Thai orphans in the wake of the 2004 tsunami, Peter Baines faced the challenge of balancing his ongoing police work with nurturing his fledgeling charity.
He shares, "I went back and asked for 12 months leave without pay, so I could focus on the charity. Because I knew Gary, if I returned to my role, whatever role was within New South Wales Police, I wouldn't have the freedom, nor the capacity to do what I was doing, to continue to build and grow the charity."
Recognising that dividing his attention between the two would likely cause the charity's momentum to falter, Peter made the difficult decision to take a year of leave without pay to concentrate on expanding Hands Across the Water.
During this pivotal period from 2008-2009, he travelled extensively to raise awareness and funding while strengthening the charity's infrastructure.
By the end of the year, Peter stood at a crossroads - return to the police force or devote himself full-time to the charity he had built from the ground up.
As he notes, "The decision to leave was easy because of the consequence of taking one or the other." While ending his 22-year policing career was bittersweet, Peter felt compelled to nurture the charity for the sake of the children, relying on its support.
While his police service endowed him with invaluable skills and experiences, Peter's ‘passion for helping vulnerable youth ultimately led him down a different path.
His courage in stepping into the unknown to guide Hands Across the Water demonstrates the depth of his commitment to bettering children's lives in Thailand and beyond.
Though the decision was difficult, Peter shows no regrets about leaving law enforcement behind to focus on growing his visionary charity.
Importance of Reputation for Peter
In Peter Baines' role in providing forensic analysis and testimony, credibility was paramount.
Peter recounts, "So from those very early days, your reputation was important. And I think it was something that, although I might not have framed it, and have been as conscious of it, certainly is the way you portray it. But I think from those very early days, it was very important to be respected for the work that you did and the professionalism that you brought to the role."
This notion of reputation took on heightened meaning in the context of his humanitarian work. With Hands Across the Water dealing with vulnerable youth and donor funds, any transgressions could spell the demise of the organisation.
From his early policing days to spearheading a children's charity, Peter recognises the weight of reputation across contexts. Maintaining an ethical, professional standing has remained central to his personal brand and the organisation he built.
Peter's Values and Beliefs
When asked about the genesis of his personal values and beliefs, Peter acknowledges they were profoundly shaped by his upbringing and the strong work ethic modelled by his parents.
While establishing his core values wasn't an overtly conscious process, Peter reflects that they evolved through observing and interacting with various positive and negative influences in his life. This absorption of virtues and principles gradually moulded his character.
Prompted about when his beliefs began to solidify, Peter points to the period after departing from the police force to focus full-time on directing Hands Across the Water.
Stepping into the unknown to lead the charity he founded forced him to determine what he stood for and where he wanted to guide the organisation.
Peter acknowledges that during an evolving process, this juncture compelled him to consciously reflect tandalign his actions and leadership with his humanitarian values.
By embracing this introspection, he hopes to continue growing and steering Hands Across the Water towards making a substantive difference in the lives of vulnerable youth.
What to Do if Your Values Are Tested
Throughout his varied careers, Peter Baines has acknowledged situations that have challenged his principles and beliefs.
Specifically, through his humanitarian work establishing the children's charity Hands Across the Water, Peter faced an ethical dilemma when introduced to an organisation in Northern Thailand that claimed to support vulnerable youth.
As it turned out, "They were operating criminally. And it was, it was a big decision, not a difficult decision. But it was a big process to unravel all of that. And Hands had its name attached to it." Though Hands Across the Water had no direct involvement, Peter recognised the potential damage to the charity's reputation and moved swiftly to sever ties.
He explains the heightened scrutiny organisations like his face, stating, "We're dealing with other people's money. And we're dealing with vulnerable children. And I think transgressions in the use of other people's money, or how the children are cared for, can absolutely be the undoing and the demise and downfall of the charity." By confronting the issue head-on, Peter protected both the children and Hands Across the Water's integrity.
While an extreme example, it illustrates Peter’s care in vetting partnerships, especially given the susceptibility of the children the charity serves.
Guided by an ethical compass aligned with his humanitarian values, he navigated the situation while keeping the interests of the children foremost in mind.
For him, it presented an opportunity to reaffirm Hands Across the Water's commitments in the face of adversity.
How to Maintain Relevance
When questioned if he contemplates preserving his relevance across contexts, from family to professional circles – Peter feels fortunate to lead an active, engaged life.
As he shares, "I certainly think when we talk about the charity, yeah, there's, there's a change in relevance. And I'm very conscious of the relevance the charity plays, but I see that as a different, different question, personally. There's absolutely a relevance around the topic that I speak on, when people attach it to an event which is coming up to 20 years. I'm not concerned around any of any of that other than the charity side."
He explains that, from a personal perspective, at 56, he feels no pressing need to consciously safeguard his relevance. While preserving intergenerational relevance resonates, Peter feels blessed to embark on adventures like leading an 800-kilometre charity bike ride one week and snowboarding with his kids in Japan the next.
For him, continued relevance stems from fully embracing each day's opportunities rather than any deliberate ploy. He notes, "I think the relevance comes from having an active and full life more so than any conscious choice to change or be closer."
Mentorship and Personal Growth
Talking about the key mentors who influenced his path, Peter Baines points to Peter Walsh, an assistant commissioner he encountered during his policing career.
Peter explains that while Walsh held no formal oversight, he made it a point to check in whenever visiting the station. As he shares, "I've never forgotten the importance of presence as a leader. And it's something I talk about in various examples. And whenever someone asks me about, you know, the impact of someone on my career, I think of Peter Walsh." For Peter, Walsh's caring approach modelled exceptional leadership.
In guiding Hands Across the Water, Peter also credits the profound influence of Mechai Viravaidya, a Thai activist who established child-focused nonprofits. As he notes, "I think she's one of the most influential people in shaping how I view challenge, how I view resilience, and how I view commitment." Their annual meetings fortify Peter's purpose and direction.
When asked about mentoring others himself, Peter acknowledges informal guidance through his charity bike rides and community building. He says, "Having seen people on that ride and, you know, the value of that experience, and, if being present on that ride, and my presence brings positive growth for someone, well, that's a wonderful thing."
He hopes participants derive enduring inspiration beyond the road by nurturing connections on these journeys.
Key Takeaways
In reflecting on his careers spanning over two decades in law enforcement, humanitarian work, writing, and public speaking, Peter Baines offers profound insights on evolving one's path and purpose.
Several pivotal experiences indelibly shaped his trajectory - from responding to massive traumatic events like the Bali bombings and Boxing Day tsunami to ultimately establishing the charity Hands Across the Water to support Thai orphans.
While leaving behind a 22-year policing career was difficult, his passion for helping vulnerable youth compelled him to nurture the charity he built from the ground up. This ability to follow his humanitarian calling demonstrates deep conviction.
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