From time to time, we’d like to introduce you to the people who have helped us build Koala Eco from a small online business to the international operation it is today, without losing sight of our key purpose to bring more of the healing and power of nature into people’s everyday lives. We are so lucky to have key advisers who are not only experts in their fields and passionate about the environment but often also happen to have a family connection. Take board member Sam Daniels, Uncle of myself Koala Eco co-founder Jess and US director Dee.
Sam describes his path to Koala Eco as ‘circuitous,’ having begun his career in the industrial manufacturing sector and, in the 1980s, building a small organisation specialising in turning around failing publicly traded acquisitions.
‘This work led to mergers, acquisitions and managing sales, marketing and operations for a US$1.1billion international industrial chemical manufacturer,’ says Sam. ‘In 2006, while founding Algonquin, my first start-up. We soldiered through the 2008 crash and are doing well 18 years later.
Sam’s industrial life pivoted to the environmental when Jessica and Paul started Koala Eco. ‘I’ve been on board since the beginning,’ continues Sam. ‘All my corporate and entrepreneurial miscues made for an extensive ‘not to do list,’ however fortunately, Jess and Dee also had experience from businesses they’d started and operated, while Paul’s finance and accounting experience supported both the capital raise and detailed operational planning and management.
‘I’m very proud of my family members’ commitment to the environment, the exceptional organisation they are building and their profound commitment to giving back,’ he says. ‘I especially enjoy meeting customers at trade shows and listening to their product experiences in store settings. With the opportunity Jess and Paul have afforded me, I’m on the learning curve again, with a conduit to support our environmental aspirations and, quite possibly, welcome a second generation into the family business.’
Despite claims of being on a learning curve, it seems Sam’s own commitment to the well-being of the environment has long been established. Sam and his wife, my Auntie Mamie, rescue and foster stray kittens and dogs and raise them until other homes become available. To date, they’ve saved over 500 animals. X Jess
