Gavin E. Greenoak

One of the most fascinating and gracious people I met in Australia is Gavin Greenoak.  I had the pleasure of sharing a meal and coffee with him on a couple of occasions, in Sydney as well as Byron Bay. Mr. Greenoak is the head of The Australian Photobiology Testing Facility Pty. Limited (APTF). The APTF services the national and multinational cosmetics and pharmaceutical industry mainly in Australia. New Zealand, Fiji, UK, USA, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Netherlands, Holland, France, Belgium, Norway, Argentina, Brazil, Israel, and Germany by testing cosmetics and pharmaceuticals on human skin for purposes of claim substantiation and toxicological requirements. As its name suggests, the APTF specializes in the effects of light, or electromagnetic energy (including ultraviolet and infra red), on skin, and in the evaluation of all types of material, including sunscreens and clothing, designed to protect the skin from the damaging effects of sunlight exposure.

Of course, our conversation was a bit less technical and more casual, but I was so intrigued by his work that I read up a little on The APTF here and learned that Mr. Greenoak is THE authority in his line of work.  So unassuming, a smile that could light up a room and class we could all share.

Thank you Gavin, I feel privileged to have shared some of my time in Australia with you.