Individual Champion of Change Award Winner
Dr Peter Aitken - Senior Director, Health Disaster Management Unit / Deputy State Health Coordinator – Queensland Health
Dr Peter Aitken is an Emergency Physician, Senior Director of the Queensland Health, Health Disaster Management Unit and Deputy State Health Coordinator for the State's response to COVID-19.
Peter has a long history in emergency and disaster health management and is well regarded as an expert in the field. He extends his experience with his passion for teaching and research; previously teaching in the QUT Disaster Management courses and as an Associate Professor in the School for Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences at JCU. Peter is associated with multiple disaster health management research groups and professional committees within Australia and overseas.
Peter has consistently demonstrated excellence in disaster management throughout his career, but in particular, his expertise and passion for the field has come to the fore throughout the Queensland Government response to COVID-19.
Early within the pandemic, Peter was appointed as the Deputy State Health Coordinator to oversee the functions of the State Health Emergency Coordination Centre (SHECC) on behalf of the Chief Health Officer and State Health Coordinator.
Whilst usually the proxy representative for Queensland Health on the SDCG, Peter was appointed as the Queensland Health SDCG representative specifically for COVID-19 and the key operational contact for all agencies. Peter’s strength is bringing people and agencies together to contribute to the goal of keeping the community safe and healthy. Queensland Health’s ability to coordinate and cooperate with all agencies across government under the Queensland Disaster Management Arrangements would not have been possible without the dedication of Peter and his ability to forge strong working relationships.
Peter has been a leader within his organisation and across government for the duration of this global pandemic, providing clarity, direction and perspective to colleagues and counterparts alike.
