Old Boy Geoff ‘Reff’ Sykes (1995) was a Prefect and boarder in Strong House. He left Churchie in 1995 to attack a Bachelor of Business degree at QUT, completing his final year on exchange in New York city. Whilst living in the UK and France for 12 years, he completed his MBA in the UK (Thesis: Launch strategies for Western brands entering the Russian market.). All the while, supporting and fuelling the rapid expansion of global retail and distribution partnerships with Quiksilver and DC Shoes.

For the past eight years, Reff has spent his time between New York, Silicon Valley & Noosa Heads, working in Technology building software and hardware solutions for media and music platforms. In his spare time, he writes kids books for charities. His titles include Lucia, Maria & The Rainbow Canoe (for dyslexia and depression in children) and more recently Others Unlike Me! (to prevent bullying in schools). Both books are available on amazon.com.au. The Rainbow_canoe (Instagram) is another reference with sneak peeks of each title, with royalties from this books supporting the detection of early stage depression & dyslexia in children.

Combining all of his experiences from retail, media and omni-channel, Reff’s latest professional venture is UnTap Media. Reff is a co-founder and the CEO of this organisation combining personal hygiene and media through an interactive screen network. Reff says: “In a world where hand hygiene and communications are critically important, UnTap Media delivers an end to end technology solution with a unique range of hand hygiene & media screens. UnTap Media’s screen network supports & extends local businesses, retailers, hospitality, health & education professionals, who are urgently looking for simple & effective ways to keep hands clean in our community, whilst also able to promote their causes, products & services. Our interactive screens uniquely connect and engage audiences with media messaging at hand sanitiser dispensers, water faucets/ taps, mirrors and outdoor.”

This is an interesting business and very relevant, particularly in these uncertain times of COVID-19. We wish Reff every success with this business venture!