Derek Philip Thompson was born in Hammersmith, England in 1950 and in 1957 his family immigrated to Australia. He grew up and went to school in Penrith, NSW. After studying electrical engineering at Sydney University, he worked for 34 years with NSW Public Works as an electrical engineer and project manager. It was in 1974 that he became a Christian and married Margaret. They have two daughters. After taking early retirement in 2009, Derek completed a Diploma in Theology at Charles Sturt University. Since 2005 Derek has been involved in a regional ecumenical church organisation called Five Islands Christian Ministries and in 2020 helped to plant Albion Park Community Church, as its Associate Pastor.