John Franceschini BSc (Hons.), C.Chem, MRACI
Sharp & Howells Pty Ltd | 41 Greenaway St, Bulleen, VIC 3105
Academic Qualifications
La Trobe University, Bundoora 1980-1983
Bachelor of Science; Honours in Chemistry
Professional Experience & Qualifications
Sharp & Howells Pty Ltd – 1984- Current
Est 1922, NATA Accredited Laboratory No. 61- first accredited 1952
- Analytical Chemist
- Materials Scientist
- Forensic Chemical Investigator
- Principle Consultant
- Laboratory Manager
- Company Director
- Expert Witness
Incorporating-
- Chemical Analysis, Instrumentation & Testing Services
- Materials Science and Testing
- Laboratory Management
- Quality Management
- Project Management
- Staff Management
- HSE Management
- Business Management
Memberships Held During Professional Career
MRACI: (Member- Royal Australian Chemical Institute
Victorian Committee Member. Involved in multiple groups including Analytical, Polymers, HSE Group, Dangerous Goods Group, Consultants Group and Chemical Heritage Group.
C.Chem: (Chartered Chemist)
NATA: (National Association of Testing Authorities)
Overseeing of all levels of NATA and ISO accreditation procedures and assessments over a range of Testing fields
- ANZFSS: Australia and New Zealand Forensic Science Society
- CIA: Concrete Institute of Australia
- EA: Engineers Australia
- BDPS: Building Dispute Practitioners Society
- FESA: Forensic Engineers Society of Australia
- AIBS: Australian Institute of Building Inspectors
- ACA: Australasian Corrosion Association
- ALMA: Australian Laboratory Managers Association
- ACM: Australian Chamber of Manufacturers
- SIA: Science Industry Australia
- FPA: Fire Protection Association
- Scientists in Schools
Registered with Ports & Harbours as Competent Chemist:
A rarely held accreditation for confined space testing and chemical emergency response.
Australian Standards:
Technical contributor to several Australian standards and committees.
Expert Witness-Industrial Chemical Forensics & Chemical Litigation:
Experienced in both analytical and legal issues involved in chemical analysis and testing. Appeared at most levels of litigation.
Instrumental Analysis Expertise:
FTIR, SEM-EDS, GC/MS, AAS/ICP, NMR, IC, XRF, XRD, UV/Vis, LIBS, LC/MS, ISE, TGA
Petroleum Product Analysis and Testing:
Experience in testing and procedures that are world recognized.
Occupational Health & Safety / Toxicology:
Chemical hazard assessments both on site and in the lab against current OHS regulations.
Dangerous Goods / HAZMAT Incidents:
Chemical hazard assessments both on site and in the lab including chemical emergency response.
Building and Construction Material and Product Testing, Analysis & Failure Investigation:
Pioneered new tests and programs for the building industry that have set benchmark quality assurance protocols, particularly for mortar and concrete.
Environmental Investigations: (Including Site Contamination Assessments)
Managed numerous environmental assessments at EPA level.
Quality Control:
Responsible for the setting up and NATA accreditation of the laboratory in several fields of testing including Chemical, Environmental and Construction.
Media Releases and Interviews
- 1998- 3AW Radio Melbourne- Toxicity of household chemicals
- 2000- The Age Newspaper- McDonalds investigation- not published due to legal restrictions
- 2001- GTV 9- A Current Affair- Fish Replacement Scandal- not aired due to legal restrictions
- 2001- GTV 9- A Current Affair- Cosmetic Investigation
- 2004- 3AW Melbourne- Neil Mitchell Program- Dangers of Petrol for consumers
- 2005- GTV 9- A Current Affair- Petrol Investigation
- 2007- HSV 7- Today Tonight- Petrol Investigation
- 2009- 3AW Melbourne- Breakfast Program- Domain Tunnel Leakage Issues
- 2010- HSV 7- Independent Production- Fast Food Expose and Investigation
- 2011- Leader Newspapers- Expose on Dangerous Consumer Goods
- 2013- News Limited Sydney- Investigation into Gold Buying
- 2013- News Limited Melbourne- Investigation into alcohol contamination
- 2014- Herald Sun News- Ambulance Victoria Patients Drug Shock Investigation
- 2014- Courier Mail- Deadly Poison in our Streets-Drug Investigation
- 2015- ABC Radio National- Mark Colvin Program- The Chinese Factory Cyanide Factory Explosion
- 2015- News Limited Sydney- Investigation into Generic Drugs
- 2016- SBS News- Importation of illicit products
Major Projects Investigated
- HRDG projects- Dangerous Goods Identifications- Victoria wide
- Illicit and Synthetic Drug Identifications
- VicPol Investigations
- Westgate Bridge Concrete Analysis
- ACP identifications
- Coode Island/Butlers Transport/Recycling Plant Fires
- Albert Park Grand Prix Site- Environmental Investigation
- CSR Sugar Refinery- Concrete Durability Investigation
- Swanston Street Brick Wall Collapse- investigation including mortar and brickwork analysis and testing
- Flemington Racecourse- Soil Investigation
- Smart Meters- Sabotage Investigation
- Flinders St Station- Concrete, mortar and render analysis (Historic Material Investigation)
- Material Analysis- Road and rail tunnels
- Spirit of Tasmania- Health and Safety Assessments
- Webb Dock, Swanston Dock- Health and Safety assessments
- Channel 9 Site- Concrete and mortar testing
- Eastlink/Citylink- quarry product evaluations and QA/QC Testing
- MLC building/Nauru House/ Cadbury Schweppes- concrete ‘cancer’ evaluations
- Morwell Power Station- OHS assessments
- Cement Manufacturers- cement product testing and analysis
- Crystalline Silica Evaluations
- Asbestos Evaluations
- Dangerous Goods Evaluations
Publications and Presentations:
-
RACI HSE Conference- 2019
Dangerous Goods Testing and Analysis -
RACI HSE Seminar -2019
Modern Forensic Chemistry -
ACRA Seminar -2017
Concrete Testing and Analysis -
C.I.A Seminar Series- 2018
Concrete Testing and Analysis -
ANZFSS- 2017
100 Years of Forensic Chemistry -
AIBS Seminar -2010
Mortar Testing -
Lime Conference -2007
Lime Analysis and Testing -
Industrial Forensic Chemistry -2010 onwards
Thinking Outside the Hexagon -
7th Australasian Masonry Conference. -2004, p224-235
A Comparison of the physical and chemical testing or mortar -
Sharp & Howells-2014
Guide to Concrete Testing and Assessment -
TABS Journal Winter -2009
Mortar test raises the standard brick by brick -
Major Report -2008
Assessment of Concrete Durability at the SAPL Sugar Refinery -
Confidential Test Reports -2012
Concrete Deterioration in Pavements -
Technical Bulletins M05/M06/M07-2009-2012
Recent Changes to Mortar Testing -
Chemistry in Australia -2002
Time for Chemists to Fight Back -
Australasian Science- March 2000, with RW Broadbent
The Sixth Sense -
Sharp & Howells, with Alan Elliott
100 Years of Chemistry