The Vandemonian

Allan was born in Tasmania and attended multiple schools across Hobart, moving frequently as his family renovated homes. Though he originally aspired to be an artist, Allan’s early jobs revealed a natural aptitude for science and technology. After finishing at Elizabeth College, he briefly studied medicine at the University of Tasmania before leaving to launch a high-tech career in robotics. Starting in 1979, Allan quickly gained an international reputation, developing smart mobile robots for clients such as Commodore, Radio Shack, and Moulinex across Asia, the USA, and Europe. In 1993, he took the helm of Denning Mobile Robotics, a struggling NASDAQ-listed competitor, which he successfully revitalised over four years with high-profile clients like General Electric and NASA. Following his work in robotics, Allan found his management skills transferable to other industries, establishing himself as a specialist in global corporate turnarounds—a career he continues to pursue, though he now devotes much of his time to writing. While Allan has been published in both academic and popular media, this is his first book. He currently divides his time between Tasmania, the USA, Thailand, and Germany.