Major General Peter Arnison is a former Governor of Queensland, Australian Defence Force Land Commander Australia, and university administrator.
Born and educated in Lismore before attending the Royal Military College, Duntroon, Major General Arnison entered the Royal Australian Infantry Corps in 1962. After a 37-year military career, much of which was spent in infantry command, he completed his service as Land Commander Australia in 1996. During his service he also obtained a Bachelor of Economics from UQ.
Following his retirement from the military, Major General Arnison worked as executive director of Allied Rubber Products (Queensland), before being appointed as Queensland’s 23rd Governor, a role he served in from 1997 until 2003. He then served as chancellor of Queensland University of Technology (QUT) from 2004 until 2012.
In 1997 he was named a Knight of Grace in the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, and in 2001 he was named a Companion of the Order of Australia. In 2002, Major General Arnison was named a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. The same year, he received a Doctor of Laws honoris causa from UQ.
