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After 10 years living in Japan, Derek launched GrongTech Web Solutions in 2013. Initially focused on websites and marketing automation, in recent years he has been shifting that focus to video editing. An avid student of The Urantia Book for over 30 years, Derek advocates for its profound and epochal message. Most of his work in this area can be found on the Perth Urantia Book Study Group website. He is currently involved in pre-production of an ambitious Urantia Book based project which serves as an evolution of the work done in Perth.

He was first exposed to Japanese culture in high school as he trained in Judo, and this continued in university through his studies and training in Aikido. During his 10 years in Japan he immersed himself in the culture by continuing his study of Aikido under an exceptional teacher, taking up the study of the Japanese sword with a teacher whose grandfather was an actual samurai, and also becoming a member of a local Taiko drumming group.

It was also during this time, starting in the late 1990s, that he began to create digital media content, build websites, and film demonstrations and events.

After moving to Perth, Australia with his family, he launched GrongTech Web Solutions in 2013. Initially focused on developing websites, and building marketing automation frameworks, the focus in recent years has shifted considerably towards video creation, editing, and branding.

Derek has been an avid student of The Urantia Book for over 30 years and continues to strongly advocate for its profound and epochal message. After meeting a like-minded fellow student in Perth, he co-founded the Perth Urantia Book Study Group (Perth UBSG). A great deal of his Urantia Book - related work can be found on the Perth Urantia Book Study Group website. Now that all of the main members contributing to that work are no longer in Perth, Derek continues to maintain the website to keep the work available despite his relocating to Sydney in 2020.

As part of his work with Perth UBSG, and as the result of a very disappointing interview experience on a local radio station, Derek got the idea to create a webcast to be hosted on the website. There is now a short series of ‘webcasts’ on the Perth UBSG website which is the culmination of a massive amount of mutual study, writing, drinking coffee, rewriting, drinking more coffee, and further study..

Through GrongTech, Derek also provides and maintains the online presence of UNITY EARTH, an organisation which fosters a global community focused on unity(but not uniformity), with purpose, for peace. UNITY EARTH usually promotes 3 global events annually; a symposium in February, World Unity Week in June, and Peace Week in September.

Derek is currently involved in strengthening and growing his personal relationships with members of the global community of Urantia Book readers. He is also in pre-production for an ambitious Urantia Book based project which serves as an evolution of the work done in Perth.

Derek sees himself as more of a Steve Wozniack than a Steve Jobs.  He’s not a huge fan of the limelight, but really enjoys when the projects he works on succeed in inspiring others.

He is excited and honored to be counted as part of the team on the Beyond Being Human project, and looks forward to inspiring people all over the world with the results of this effort.