Harro Drexler has a B.Sc. degree in chemistry and applied mathematics from the University of the Witwatersrand South Africa. He also holds a masters degree in Business Management obtained at the University of South Africa. He has worked for ICI Ltd in South Africa, as a technical service manager, as a sales representative and a short term as acting branch manager. He also worked as a product manager for ICI in the UK. In Europe, he worked as a business development manager for Unichema International owned by Unilever. He joined Dussek Campbell Pty Ltd in Australia (then owned by Burmah Castrol) where he was ultimately appointed Technical Director. His final job before retirement was with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) as Business Development Manager, commercializing new inventions and technologies in Australia and worldwide.
His experiences include dyestuffs, fatty acid and wax chemistry, customer service, selling, managing people by influence and in a line management position, business development of technical products and building strategic relationships with customers and suppliers.
His achievements include improving efficiency of laboratories by using quality circle methods, developing strategic alliances, developing major new applications for commodity products through differentiation, and commercializing new technologies.
He has been a Lifeline telephone counselor for 11 years. This experience has significantly influenced the writing of this book.
Harro Drexler is retired and lives in Sydney, Australia.