When the economic environment for advertising changed
in the early 1990’s I closed my company and traveled
to Taiwan for the first time. I arrived here first
in 1992 and experienced life as an English teacher.
I left shortly after to travel around South East Asia,
which I found very exciting and stimulating and so
I decided to return to Taiwan and learn more about
doing business here. I had also met my future wife,
Joy during that first trip so there was an added reason
to return!
I started working in a trading company in Taichung
shortly after my return to Taiwan and I learnt a great
deal about trade and a number of quality, production
and marketing issues. I then worked with a partner
in the timber industry for a few years before moving
to Hsinchu and opening the UKEAS office here with
Joy in 1999. It was a busy time for us as our eldest
son Ryan was born in the same month that we opened
the office!
Shortly after opening Hsinchu, we opened the Taoyuan
office in 2000. We didn’t have our second child, Angus,
though until 2003 as we needed some breathing space!
Joy and I now oversee the cases in the Hsinchu and
Taoyuan offices and I am now also very involved in
the running of the Taipei office, as well as other
offices overseas and our new service company, GPS
Career Connections.
My experiences helping students study overseas have
been very rewarding to me and I enjoy discussing with
students their academic and career plans. With my
background in high tech and marketing I feel well
suited to advise students, particularly in Taiwan
about their goals.
Although I will always be British (and in fact I
am one of the appointed Wardens for Hsinchu County,
an appointment made by the British Trade and Cultural
Office to be in charge of British citizens in Hsinchu),
I am very pleased to call Taiwan my home. I look forward
to meeting you in one of our offices and being able
to discuss and, I believe, help you in achieving your
overseas study or career goals. Welcome.