Meet Our Advocates and Ambassadors
Dr Vincent Candrawinata - Food, Health and Nutrition Scientist and The Nappy Collective Advocate
Hi, my name is Dr Vincent Candrawinata!
I am a scientist in the field of Food, Health and Nutrition, and hold a PhD in Applied Science from the University of Newcastle, where I invented a patented technology to extract and utilise antioxidant phenolics from plants. I have been recognised by the Australian Government as an Individual with a Distinguished Talent in Research and Academia.
I was raised with the belief that we should always grow in life and make a difference; this is why I became a scientist, and why I founded Renovatio Bioscience, with the mission of helping people live healthier, happier lives.
In 2023, I became a dad and it has been the greatest joy and privilege. Around the same time, I came across The Nappy Collective through their Father’s Day campaign, “Dads Change Nappies Too.” As a new parent, the thought of not having access to clean nappies struck me deeply. I can’t imagine how stressful and heartbreaking it must be for parents facing that reality.
While this may sound trivial, the impact is huge. Lack of access to clean nappies doesn’t just affect babies’ health, it affects parents’ mental wellbeing, too. I know this because, while I’m so blessed and fortunate not to be in that situation, my mum was one of those parents, who at times, had to dry and reuse disposable nappies. When I was born, my parents had just started their small business and every single cent went into building it from the ground up. My mum tried to use cloth nappies, but working full time while raising me meant single-use nappies were a godsend — except they weren’t always single use.
The good thing about talking to people about this hidden nappy crisis is that once they hear about it, they want to help. This confirms my personal belief that people do want to help, and that Australians look after each other. But if people don’t know about this issue, they don’t know they can make a huge difference by supporting The Nappy Collective.
I have been in the situation where I didn’t have a clean nappy at hand for my baby, and it was not a good feeling. Fortunately for me, it was a one-off experience. But for thousands of parents in Australia, it’s an everyday reality.
I want to do something about it. I want to help. And I hope you’ll join me, because together we can change this, one nappy at a time.