Carter obtained a degree in economics and a Master of Business Administration. He is a former partner at Ernst & Young and has worked in corporate restructuring and insolvency for over 30 years. Carter has assisted many companies including Elders,Harris Scarfe and Balfours and has provided professional advice to the Government of South Australia. He also provided services to the Australian Government during its GST review. He was one of three members of its review panel, the others being politicians Nick Greiner and John Brumby. He joined Workcover as Chair in 2003, and five years later told a Parliamentary inquiry into the organisation that within the "first month of being there I realised this was an organisation out of control and that there was a lack of virtually anything you would expect to find in a statutory organisation." By 2011, Carter had developed a reputation as the State Government's "Mr Fix-it". Carter has served as a member of the Executive Committee of Cabinet for the Government of South Australia. Carter was appointed Chair of the Economic Development Board of South Australia in 2008. In 2008-2009, Carter was Chair of the Economic Development Board and the SA Motor Sport Board. Senator Nick Xenophon drew attention to potential conflicts of interest emerging from Carter's mix of public and private sector interests in October 2010, following his appointment to the SkyCity board. Carter resigned from his position at the Economic Development Board in November 2010. As of 2020, Carter remains SkyCity's Deputy Chair. He was appointed chair of shipbuilder Australian Submarine Corporation in 2010 and as of 2020 retains the position. Carter was appointed Chairman of the Premier's Climate Change Council and Chairman of the board of RenewablesSA in 2011,retiring in 2018 In 2013, Carter was listed as a potential alternative trustee during a legal dispute over the management of a trust fund established by mining magnate Lang Hancock and managed by his daughter Gina Rinehart. Carter withdrew his nomination after the sudden death of his wife. Carter is a former Deputy Chair of Wilderness School and St Peter's College. He was the National President of the Heart Foundation for 4 years and was on the National board from 2000 to 2011 and the South Australian board from 1992 to 2011 At 2020, Carter was Chair of the Olympic Dam Task Force Steering Committee,which became the Resource and Infrastructure Task Force dealing with Olympic Dam Nrystar in Port pirie and GFG re the Whyalla steelyards. He was also Chairman of Tarcoola to Darwin railway operator, Genesee & Wyoming Australia. He was the Chair of Territory Insurance Office until 2015., He is a director of the Bank of Queensland, Director of Eudunda Farmers Limited and a director of several other private companies, including the construction company, Badge , The Cohen Group of Companies,, AIG Australia and Sage Automation Carter was on the board of Genesee and Wyoming Inc from 2018-2020 US global railroad company based in CT USA until taken over by Brookfield Carter is chair of Aventus Ltd since listing in 2015, a large format retail centre REIT, 30% owned by Brett Blundy
Personal life
Carter is an old scholar of Pembroke School, Adelaide and graduated in 1975. He has 4 adult children Carter's wife died in 2013.
