My academic background and training was in the applications of magnetic resonance: ESR/EPR and NMR, while more recently, over the past 2 decades, much of my work has also involved mass spectrometry. Free radical chemistry has been an active interest since the 1970s
My career has centred around a 30 year spell in industry which included a 26-year period with BHP Research and BlueScope Steel, during which I became known as a Global expert in surface coatings science - especially in understanding the mechanistic subtleties which underpin long term performance of coatings. I worked in Germany for three years with Bruker, as an applications chemist for EPR and NMR.
From 2009 to 2014 I held an ARC Linkage grant investigating the microbial infestation of surfaces (particularly roofing).
Since 2006 I have maintained a keen interest in sunscreen science with a view to developing sunscreens which will be safe for Australians, even under extreme UV Index conditions. This work involves green synthesis and characterisation of nanomaterials, including toxicology studies on human cell lines then following these initiatives through to the formulation and testing of product sunscreens.
I currently also work on another ARC project aimed at developing the utility of LED curing to the surface coatings industry - this really is an example of the circle of life - a return to free radical structure and mechanism, developing new photoinitiators for LED curing and then building a pilot line for the implementation phase of the project, which has an underlying goal of eliminating mercury (conventional UV lamps) from the workplace.