Peter Strauss graduated with a BSc in geology from London University in 1955.

For the next 15 years he worked for the National Coal Board in the U.K, initially as Opencast Executive & Prospecting Officer. In that role he was responsible for supervision of drilling, sampling, mapping, correlation of seams, calculation of reserves and pit planning. Complete re-correlation of seams and production of revised coal geology maps for the Leicestershire and South Derbyshire Coalfield. Research included definition of a possible new coalfield in the south Midlands, U.K. From 1960 to 1966 he worked as a Scientist in the Coal Survey Laboratory, East Midlands Division where his duties included supervision of coal core examination, sampling and analyses; seam appraisals and seam mapping including on a regional coalfield scale, utilisation of coals, various investigations including assessment of underground gasification trial areas, and microscopy study of kaolin-rich rocks (tonsteins). In 1966, Peter was appointed Area Geologist for the East Midlands area with responsibility for all geological aspects relating to the operation and development of fifteen collieries in the North Derbyshire Area. This included planning and supervision of exploratory drilling, underground surveys, mapping, assessment of economic reserves, etc., recognition of facies from cores and field mapping and relating these sedimentary features to coal seam trends and characteristics both on a local and regional scale. Research included establishing a simple classification of coal measures rocks.

In 1970, Peter joined RobSearch Australia Pty Ltd , (then named Robertson Research (Australia) Pty Ltd), as Chief Coal Geologist supervising up to 20 geologists and responsibility for the firmís consulting on a wide range of coal and lignite projects, principally in Australia, New Zealand, South-East Asia and the Indian Sub-continent involving :-

Over 300 projects were supervised or undertaken principally for mining and petroleum companies, governmental and financial institutions.

After 19 years with Robertson Australia, in 1989 Peter joined Gilfillan Associates Pty. Ltd in Sydney as their Senior Associate - Coal . Projects included a critical review of an on-going exploration programme; a technical assessment of two operating coal mines for a financial institution; a technical audit of the coal quality and reserves of two deposits related to a proposed coal supply to a power station; various assessments relating to potential acquisitions of coal interests, and a major assignment on the definition of coal targets in an overseas region.

In 1991, Peter formed his own consultancy, Peter Strauss & Associates.

Since then he has worked for a number of private clients and also through his current position as Principal Consultant - Coal with RobSearch Australia.

In summary, Peter has more than forty five year's diverse experience of the coal industry world-wide, responsible for numerous multi-disciplinary coal basin reviews, coalfield and coal property assessments including resource evaluations, definition of new coal targets for exploration and mining, advice on acquisition of coal interests, management of coal exploration programs in diverse terrains, business development, particularly in Australia, Asia and North America.