‘Customer safety is of such supreme importance; we personally stand by our product, wherever it is in the world’ – Founding Director Wendy Marks

Before becoming a Founding Director of AusProof, one of it’s ‘jack of all trades’, always with a smile on her face and a kind hello for everyone, Wendy was a nurse in Perth. Living and loving life, not once did she suspect that one fateful December day, that life was about to pivot onto a very different course. From nursing to electrical cable couplers… how did it happen?

The year is 1979, and while working as a nurse in Perth, Wendy meets a bloke barely off the plane from South Africa, looking to start his Christmas holidays. His name was Philip. After their initial encounter, Wendy continued about her life while Philip spent some time on Australia’s east coast. Something special had taken hold during their first encounter however, and after a short time, Philip decided to return Perth to find her, to find Wendy. One whirlwind courtship and an engagement later, and Wendy found herself beginning the new year and a whole new life chapter in South Africa.

It takes a lot of courage to pack up your whole life and move to a whole new country and culture. This trait, along with the confidence and convictions of the ‘young lioness’ she would later be nicknamed, would serve Wendy well during her time in South Africa, first as a new wife, later as a young mother dedicated to raising her kids. These traits would continue to serve her during AusProof’s 30 years. Honesty, integrity, standing your ground, are words and values that Wendy lives by; ‘A man without honour has nothing; stand up for yourself, stand up for the truth, and be honest’.

In between taking care of kids Shona and Aston in AusProof’s early years, Wendy pitched in whenever and however she could, from mowing and cleaning to working the tools and machines, to administration, maintenance, and (oh god, the dreaded) accounting. Despite not being a fan of accounting, she was a whizz at it; if funds needed to be found, Wendy found them (even if it was just to make sure Philip had a few dollars for a beer to relax at the end of the week). ‘I was told “I need it, you find it”,’ says Wendy, speaking of the challenges faced in AusProof’s early days. ‘We had a little shed, a tos lathe, and plastic chairs, that was it. We remember where we came from, and I think that’s pretty important.’

If you were to ask Wendy what she is most proud of, her response is always her family, from the hard work of her kids, parents and in-laws while AusProof was getting on its feet, to Aston taking on the role of Managing Director, to Philips’ achievements in designing and developing safer cable coupler solutions for use around the world. ‘I am always impressed by everything Philip does, his attention to detail is extreme, he never backs down’, says Wendy. ‘There’s been failures, and we thrive on it, as it pushes your limit. You’ve got to improve yourself. Without failures, you’re not bringing the best out.’

Just like Philip, Wendy tried retirement, but these days you’ll still find her on site, working as hard as ever. She does make sure though to enjoy her time off-site with her best friend and life partner Philip, going kayaking and outrigging, taking long walks, travelling the world, enjoying wildlife and the great outdoors.