I joined CHOICE because I admire and value the important work they do for Australian consumers. By being part of this organisation, I can support and contribute to its goal of working for fair, safe and just markets that meet the needs of everyday Australians.
I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, and before working for CHOICE, I worked as a design engineer specialising in software and firmware for industrial machines used in the manufacture of electronic components. I've also spent a number of years as a planning engineer for an appliances manufacturer in the Philippines.
Working in the CHOICE labs, I mainly test children's products, the results of which can be found in our babies and kids section. I also test toys and other products for manufacturers, importers, retailers and government regulatory bodies to determine the products' compliance to safety standards.
I'm actively involved in several Standards Australia technical committees on key product safety standards, including toys, children's furniture, prams and strollers, babies' dummies, trampolines, sports and recreational equipment, and playground equipment. I also sit on some consumer-focused committees including conformity assessment, consumer product management systems, and consumer policy. On some of these committees I sit on behalf of CHOICE, and some on behalf of the Consumers' Federation of Australia, for which I'm a volunteer member.
I've been representing Australia in international standards work on the ISO committee TC 181 on the safety of toys for almost 20 years now, and more recently on the ISO committee TC 310 on childcare articles. For almost 30 years, I've continued as a professional grade member of Engineers Australia to maintain my connection with the engineering profession.
I'm most passionate about product safety – safety is paramount for our little ones, and the right to safety is a key consumer right.