Victoria Branch

I am forensic chemist; I hold a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) and am pursuing further studies in Data Science. I have been an ANZFSS member since 2016, I have been the President of ANZFSS Victoria Branch for three years. I was the successful recipient of the David Grace Award for the ANZFSS Symposium in Perth, 2018.

I have been an ANZFSS member since 1990 and am the current Treasurer. Since 1990, I have been employed at the Victoria Police Forensic Services Department as a forensic practitioner and manager within the Drug Sciences Group before moving to my current role of Assistant Director, Laboratory Operations – Analytical Services Division in June 2021.

I graduated in 2015 with a degree in Medicinal Chemistry (Hons). In 2017 I started working for Racing Analytical Services as a research Chemist. While there, I developed several NATA accredited methods for hair testing (DoA, Steroids, Alcohol). In late 2021 I joined Bio-Strategy as an Application Scientist, where I programs robots for use in laboratories.

I have been employed at the Victoria Police Forensic Services Centre since late 1986, where my duties involved the investigation and examination of illicit drug laboratories. Since 2012, I have been a member of the Office of the Chief Forensic Scientist, a group who oversight R&D, Training, Policy and the scientific health of Forensic Services.

I have co-authored several papers in the peer-reviewed forensic literature and am a visiting lecturer to several current university courses. From 2010 to 2019, I was the President of the Victorian Branch of ANZFSS where I remain an active committee member.

I am a Lecturer in Forensic Science at Deakin University. I hold a Bachelor of Forensic Science (Honours) degree, with a major in forensic biology, and a PhD. Prior to my current role, I was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Deakin University and the Victoria Police Forensic Services Department (VPFSD), conducting research on the interpretation and evaluation of DNA evidence, with a heavy focus on the variables impacting the transfer, persistence, prevalence, and recovery of DNA.

I am a Fingerprint Expert with Victoria Police. Swapping careers from motor mechanic to fingerprints in 2011, I completed my expert studies in 2018. I first joined the Victorian branch in 2004, regularly attending meetings and symposia, including presenting in Perth. I’ve been a Victorian committee member for 3 years.

I am a Forensic Technical Assistant at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and have previously worked at the National Institute of Forensic Science. I joined ANZFSS in 2017 whilst studying a Bachelor of Forensic Science (Hons) and joined the Committee in 2020. During university, I researched the use of trace evidence from aquatic crime scenes. Outside of forensics I am an avid tropical gardener and enjoys live music.

David Grace was employed at the Victoria Forensic Science Centre for many years as a Forensic Officer in the Biology Division. David was also a long serving, dedicated and enthusiastic member of the ANZFSS committee in Victoria. In his position as head “Technical Officer”, he was responsible for the training and development of other Biology technical staff. David strongly believed that it was important for his staff to be given similar opportunities to caseworkers in order to develop their skills. One example of his initiative to provide such opportunities was to send his staff to crime scenes to assist caseworkers.  He also felt that he and other technical staff would benefit from attending seminars and was very keen for this to occur.

David tragically died on September 30th, 1996 whilst on an Army Reserve training exercise.

In memory of David’s contribution to the ANZFSS over many years and his dedication as a Forensic Officer, the Committee has established a Memorial Scholarship in his name to enable the recipient to attend an ANZFSS Symposium. The scholarship is awarded to a member of the ANZFSS (Victorian Branch) who would not normally have the opportunity to go to a symposium and meets the requirements below. You may also be required to attend an interview.

The application form for the 2023 David Grace Scholarship can be found here.

Applications close 30th April 2023.

Please contact the vicbranch@anzfss.org or executive@anzfss.org for more information.

David Grace Award Recipients:

ANZFSS Brisbane Conference 2022: Nicole Bond & Catherine Shehan
ANZFSS Perth Conference 2018 : Joseph Balkwill