Peter Cousens AM
About
Peter is a senior cultural leader and recently admitted lawyer, following a substantial career as a performer, director, producer and executive leader of public-facing organisations.
He is now committed to developing his legal career with integrity, care and close attention to both the law and the people it serves.
Peter brings substantial lived experience of organisational leadership, including periods of growth, difficulty and recovery. This has given him a practical understanding of governance, fiduciary responsibility, reputational risk and institutional renewal.
Peter completed his Juris Doctor in 2025 and subsequently obtained his Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice. He was admitted as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in September 2026. He also holds a Master of Arts (Creative Writing) and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
Alongside the development of his legal career, Peter continues his lifelong contribution to the arts and remains an advocate for the role of story and song in human wellbeing and community life.
His work has included founding a not-for-profit theatre company; directing the feature film Freedom, starring Cuba Gooding Jr.; and writing and directing the documentary Don’t Waste It (2025) for the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.
Peter is also a long-standing leader in arts education and creative development. For eight years, until July 2025, he served as Artistic Director of the Talent Development Project, leading values-based programs that developed the creative and professional skills of emerging contemporary singer-songwriters and musical performers. His work balanced artistic excellence with duty of care, professional accountability and the individual needs of young artists.
Peter is the creator of Music & Memories and Life Songs (2023–2025), developed in collaboration with Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA). These initiatives translate the stories, identities and lived experiences of people living with dementia into original songs that support memory, wellbeing and intergenerational connection.
In 2019, in recognition of his services to the performing arts and the community, Peter was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
Peter brings to legal practice a distinctive combination of mature judgment, advocacy presence, emotional intelligence and a deep understanding of narrative. Above all, he understands how legal and institutional decisions affect real lives, particularly at times of vulnerability, conflict and change.