Peter Owen, the former Group Executive Editor (Australia) for APN News and Media, has had a long career in journalism. From 1990 to 2005, he held the position of Editor in Chief for the Sunshine Coast Newspaper company and was responsible for editorial content in, amongst other publications, the Sunshine Coast Daily. The Daily, at that stage, was valuably contributing to the debate about a Sunshine Coast region, a debate that was furthered with the creation of a regional university.

At a personal level he was a strong supporter of a university presence in the region, but at an editorial level remained objective.

Mr Owen also served as a member of the University Foundation Board from 1997-2002, and has been an active participant in other community organisations.