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What organisation / startup did you found?
The Lantern Project (and our new healthtech solution called Aged Care Epicure).
What is its noble purpose? To improve the quality of life of older adults through the joy of good food.
Tell us about the first 10 years of your life?
I was born in South Africa and moved to Australia as a two year-old.
I spent memorable times during my childhood following my GP father around on his rounds of nursing homes and developed a love of connecting with people through great food during this time.
What age were you when you had your first paying job? What was it? At 16 years old I worked in Wendy's Ice Cream Shop, the happiest job in the whole world.
Everyone smiles when getting ice cream. I would leave work in my pink polka-dot outfit with sore cheeks from a day of smiling.
What made you want to be a Doctor? Why? My father's role in healthcare and my love of aged care nutrition combined led me to my current career which has included completing a PhD specifically focused on exploring the value of nutrition in ageing.
What made you want to be an Entrepreneur or follow an alternative route? When exactly did you decide?
I have always looked at problems from an out of the box view. This earned my the award in my final year of university as the student "with ideas out of this world and universe".
I wear this badge proudly! Since graduating, I have run my clinic alongside consulting to private hospitals and aged care and now have launched an aged care food and nutrition ratings tool to the industry called Aged Care Epicure.
Are you still practicing now? If yes, do you intend to stop if the organisation or project takes off?
Yes. My favourite place to be is consulting to aged care residents - this will continue alongside the innovative tools we have launched to industry.
Why do you think traditionally many Doctors struggle with entrepreneurship? Or at least they are perceived to?
I think there is a tendency for linear thought and a hesitancy to collaborate to innovate amongst the health profession.
We work in a complex adaptive space which really relies on trying new ideas, monitoring response and adapting to further refine.
What is your favourite quote?
"If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten".
What would you do in the event of a Zombie Apocalypse?
Hang out with my family, alongside my pet alpacas and steers with our ferocious (and slightly overweight) dog Nala protecting us on our property out in whoop whoop. I think Zombies may take a while to find us and when they do, Nala will be extra hungry.
You can find out more about Aged Care Epicure by The Lantern Project here:
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