FRIENDS ARE FOR FAST SUPPLY OF PPE
FOUR entrepreneurial mates from Geelong are using their smarts to assist in the steady supply of personal protective equipment for businesses, schools and other public facilities.
Former Geelong man Dave Collard, a one-time banking and capital markets partner at accounting giant PwC in New York, has used his experience to create a business demystifying regulations surrounding the global supply and sourcing of PPE.
“I’m not a medical professional but I understand regulation and business, so by creating a company that will help secure the PPE supply chain, it was the best way for me to use my skills remotely to protect the people who matter most back home,” Mr Collard said.
He is working with mates Michael Graham, Will Kendall and James Fatone under the SaniteX brand, due to be based at the Federal Mills in North Geelong, to lead the development of software to crosscheck regulations and customer data to recommend PPE quantities.
The software is aimed at helping public facilities, schools, sporting arenas and businesses to operate in a COVID-safe manner.
A worldwide patent has been filed in the US covering the software’s business method and use of artificial intelligence, and it is being developed in conjunction with
Deakin University’s artificial intelligence institute.
“It will see us employ at least 15 to 20 people in Geelong in Q1 2021 and hopefully plenty more as we roll it out in the northern hemisphere. The Geelong team . . . will service clients right across the globe,” Mr Collard said.
“It means so much to be able to work with my mates on something meaningful while providing employment opportunities for Geelong, it’s a pandemic good news story.”
The new venture follows the shift of Mr Collard’s global apparel company,
3rd Chapter, that he owns with Mr Kendall, to make reusable masks early last year, while the SaniteX brand has combined the smarts of Mr Collard, Mr Kendall, Mr Graham and Mr Fatone to produce hand sanitiser and disinfectants.
Certified Australian and ethically made products are produced in large enough quantities to supply federal, state and local government across Australia, Mr Collard said.
SaniteX is also expanding into North America and Europe, and has donated “tens of thousands of products” to charities and other meaningful causes across Australia.