My Story
I love Australia, and I am proud to be born and raised in Melbourne with parents who arrived form overseas. My parents met late in life. My dad was a door-to-door salesman for ‘Waltons’. He asked my mum out to a drive-in movie and the rest was history. Despite the doctor’s concerns, my Mum ended up having me gave birth to me at age 40 (a big deal in 1983). We did not have much growing up but I remain forever grateful the lessons my parents taught me, as well as their many sacrifices.
Growing Up
Growing up, family was everything to me. I was especially close to my siblings. They all grew up to serve the public, as a nurse, policeman, and army officer. I got to see them all graduate. I had some big shoes to fill, but they inspired me and helped to shape me into the person I am today.
I lost my mum in 2020, but she was the single most influential person for me during my formative years. She helped me grow in my faith. She instilled in me the importance of responsibility, compassion, and doing right. Even if it was the hard. She pushed me to get my first job at age 16, working after school at ‘The Reject Shop’.
At school I loved cricket, running, international studies, and legal studies.
My Career
I have always been passionate about health and fitness. After 9 long years of working and studying part-time, I graduated with a Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition). While studying I was employed by Telstra and Apple and learnt much about business and finance.
After getting my first degree, I moved to Canberra for the Graduate Programme for the Department of Health. As a future leader I was exposed to a rigorous work schedule, and learnt a lot about service. I was fortunate to meet then Prime Minister, Tony Abbott. Although formative, I missed Melbourne too much to stay in Canberra too long. The apparent waste in the public service was frustrating to observe too.
I went onto complete my Master of Business Administration from Deakin. And my career has included audit in the aged care space, running my own nutrition business, as well as becoming an educator myself. Currently lecturing and tutoring in business and marketing. Teaching has become my latest calling.
Becoming a Family Man
In 2017 I got married to my amazing wife Kiran. She left her native Singapore behind to be a part of the great Australian dream. Our little man (Henry) joined is in 2020, and there is nowhere we would rather raise him than here in Monash.
In 2022 I decided to quit my full-time job to be more involved as a hands on father. Since then splitting my week between teaching night classes, seeing nutrition clients, and raising our son. Becoming a dad has been the most rewarding and challenging part of my life.
The family unit is central to everything I do.
In serving my community I have volunteered with:
Rotary International
St John Vianney (school and parish)
Knights of the Southern Cross
Liberal Party of Australia
Australasian Anglo-Indian Association (committee member)
Therapeutic Goods Administration
Australian Christian Lobby
Running to raise money for various charities 2012 - now
