Peter Santangelo has been on the governing Council of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses since 2005, was appointed president in 2007 and elected as President in 2008 for a two year term. During his presidency he has overseen the change in governance of the College and the move from a Council to a Board of Directors - along with an overhaul of the College constitution.

Peter has worked as a mental health nurse for over 35 years. His substantive clinical background has been in community mental health nursing in both Sydney and on the Central Coast of New South Wales. In more recent times, he has been a Senior Nurse Manager, managed several projects for Northern Sydney Central Coast Mental Health Service and is currently working in private practice.

Following his hospital based mental health nursing training, Peter completed a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Graduate Diploma in Health Services Management and a research Master of Nursing degree. He is also a Conjoint Senior Lecturer with the University of Newcastle.