About Me - My Biography

The relationships that provide the foundations to our lives rely on communication and connection.  My business, Zyteq, has at its heart the aim to match our customers with the best Electronic Assistive Technology solution for their communication disability. We are a small and dedicated team based in Melbourne and servicing all of Australia.  Our greatest feeling of success comes from working with a client and their circle to see them provided with the perfect device (often government funded) which they go on to use to achieve their own goals!  This ranges from a 3 year old with Rett Syndrome who realises she can control the computer game with her eye gaze, through to a young person with Cerebral Palsy who can now join in social media with friends, to a adult with Motor Neurone Disease who completely relies on the technology to maintain relationships, household roles and control.  I love the story best of the gentleman with MND who ordered flowers online for his wife using his eye gaze system.

Following my qualification as a Speech Pathologist in 1981 I quickly found my interest in disability, as I let the cases with lisps, voice disorders and dysfluency pass me by.  I enjoyed developing and helping people to use the Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) tools. It was very tangible and provided an immediate solution.  I worked in London for a few years and learned about the wonders of the NHS, a truly comprehensive public health system. In 1993, I was the Melbourne convenor of a Road Show of the American Communication Aid Manufacturers Association (CAMA), when I was retrenched from my position at a charitable organisation.  With this door closing the President of CAMA offered me a role to open the Australian office of his company!  I’d always been interested in business and here it was on offer!  I accepted and carried out this role for 15 years.  I learned so much from my US manager but the industry changed and business declined.  As a multi-line dealer, our Australian operation was doing 95% of business with other partners so the time had come to go separate ways.

That was 10 years ago and Zyteq today continues to keep ahead of the government policies that impact us and ever-changing world of technology.  The customers remain our constant guides while the technological advances truly provide many with a level-playing field.  Zyteq has grown from me in my spare room to a small team in a commercial premises in Port Melbourne.

I feel as though I have spent the last five years seeking suitable mentors and supports, and I have tried many!  My world has changed immeasurably in finding HerBusiness and I will be forever grateful.  Attending REACH Retreat was life-changing and I feel as though all the dots are connecting, and the path ahead is rosy!  I have moved on from my meagre goal of ‘survival’ to understanding the need for a fully formed VISION and plan, and in this way we can continue to serve our wonderful customers!  Who knows what else is possible?  Now I have the support to create it….stay tuned!

Looking forward to meeting all the fabulous HerBusiness members and contributing to this amazing community!