Dr Daryl Holmes OBE BDSc (Hons) qualified as a dentist in 1987 then practised as a Dental Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force for three years before commencing private practice in Ayr, Home Hill and Townsville, North Queensland. For several years he operated multiple dental surgeries in the Townsville region before establishing the Townsville Family Dental brand and business model in 1991.
For the next 12 years, Dr Holmes pioneered and perfected a range of innovative marketing techniques for his dentistry business, in the process transforming a cottage industry into a polished and professional customer service experience, backed up by affordable high quality dental health care. He then listed the business, renamed to 1300SMILES, via an IPO, on the 11th March, 2005 – the first dental company in Australia to have done so. The company has just announced the planned sale/merger with Albano Healthcare Group to make the largest Australia (and New Zealand) dental group with over 250 practices throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Dr Holmes also tirelessly volunteers on the YWAM (Youth With a Mission) Medical Ships in rural and remote Papua New Guinea which provide much-needed medical, dental and optical care to many who cannot access such care. Working as a dentist, on-board and onshore alongside PNG’s local health workers and other likeminded volunteers from around the world has one shared vision: healthy villages and a healthy Papua New Guinea.
To read more about Daryl, click here.
