Home | Allan Branch

“I can’t remember ever enjoying a read as I did your book. Your life and career adventures are amazing.”

Kerrell-ann Hack, Chairperson Devonfield Enterprises, Inc.

Karb Studio

Suthipong Suriya, known as Karb, is a multi-award winning food stylist and published author of several culinary books. In his amazing studio in Bangkok, he graciously added my memoir to his collection. Having just returned from winning six awards, this time the Gourmand Awards in Portugal, in return for a believe it or not take-out lunch, I treated his travel migraine with a Shiatsu massage.

20 December 2025, news that Kaub has just been awarded a commendaton from the Thai Royal Family for his community service contributions, creating a art and craft museum in his home town.

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“Impressive. A lot of people born on this island end up doing remarkable things far from here. Allan Charles Branch is one such example. The Vandemonian is at once a memoir, travel and business lessons, from a man born in 1950 in the tiny Hydro village of Waddamana and who ended up in Silicon Valley. Readers interested in business memoirs will appreciate Branch’s insights on revitalising companies – from mining to robotics – and the lessons he learned along the way. What Branch does well is tell a decent yarn. Some of his descriptions of life in Waddamana and visits to Hobart in the 1960s will be familiar to many. If this book has a theme it is a Tasmanian’s journey through the diverse and confronting United States. Branch describes his life as like a “slalom with the odd ski jump and side trips to the piste with the inevitable catastrophes. This book reads that way.”

“I could not put it down.”

Glenny Clarke, coroner, veterinarian and entertainer.

“Just finished your book and was surprised to learn and admire your life history.  I found it interesting and learnt about building a business. Your womanising was amusing to read in a book that may have been a boast or just there because of your loneliness for female company.” mile high”. You certainly have enjoyed life and made many companies very happy.” Jacquie Carrick Brownlow, author.

“I’m loving your book, it’s a fascinating read. You’ve inspired me to put together some of my stories…” Kim

“Thought I would touch base to let you know how much I am enjoying reading your book. I love just choosing a chapter and reading it without having to remember where I was up to as happens in most conventional books. I have found that it is very easy to read and sounds just the same as if you were talking to me.” Judy Richmond, printer-publisher, union leader, disability services volunteer.

“I have just finished your book – it’s a great read, thanks. Your great skill is in making things work and this, in turn, requires an intuitive grasp of ‘mechanism’ (of both robots and companies) I reckon you started off with an innate aptitude and honed it to perfection in your late teens working at the TV repair shop and the Ag. Dept. What a great education!” John Reid, author, CSIRO scientist (retired).

“I most certainly did read your book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I found the industry tales fascinating, I had no idea just how much you had accomplished (and that you could write so well).  Not bad for a bloke from Tassie! Your family stories were heartfelt and I felt like I was there with you. Got Nick to read a couple of chapters about the old Hydro village as he works with Hydro now. The chapter on Dad was spot on. You captured him perfectly.” Liz.

“Your life story itself is interesting and worth sharing, Unique title, but who knows the meaning of ‘Vandemonian’? I prefer chronological, sometimes long winded, less is often better. Great corporate giants. Lots of names of companies and business people, except for the mention in the book, often not much else to connect with them. Reading about saving Kari, you dog, I am finally hooked, a real page turner. Nice to read your positive comments about my native country.”  Jan-Willem, Holland.

“The typical founder biography is often about a solitary, highly competitive genius whose affluent parents support his entry into the best schools or even the best countries to work in. If the book is an autobiography, it tries to hide that the person is someone most of us wouldn’t enjoy having over for dinner. Allan’s story of life as a successful serial entrepreneur is very different, where a rural working-class background populated with real versions of the laid-back Aussie stereotype leads to business success and a life well-lived. The book intertwines humorous self-deprecating vignettes with the lessons learned from managing, starting, and turning around companies amid the drama of Hillbilly Elegy-like brushes with family dysfunction and mental illness. Indirectly it suggests that an answer to how to get more kids into STEM may not be to sign them up for yet another after-school class or robot competition, but instead provide love, tools, and plenty of time to explore and experiment. Be prepared to take notes, you’ll want to make a playlist of all the songs and musicians he loves- or, better yet, have him over for dinner and ask him yourself.”

“I’m loving your book …. thoroughly enjoyed reading all of it ….  Anyone who knows you would have the same experience I am sure.  It is very much you Allan, with plenty of droll anecdotes that resonate.

What it would need to give it mass appeal is more of the dark side of events – the failings of you and of others. You were judicious and didn’t give details or back-story where it might make you or someone else look or feel bad.  And that is good.”

“Good stuff! I really enjoyed this version and was much moved by much of it.” 

The story is entertaining, informative, and unsettling.  Allan and I have crossed/almost crossed paths occasionally, but our backgrounds and general experience are so different that it’s surprising to find that we come to the same basic views on what’s good and important. The narrative is stuffed with stories about famous companies and people…some I have known, and some I didn’t know I knew, revealing a whole lot about how new technology actually comes into use. It isn’t an orderly process, and this isn’t an orderly book. It’s full of pain and emotion. It begins conventionally enough by recounting his stressful youth in a village in Tasmania, during which he learns that he’s smart, technically adept, and tough enough to protect himself and his siblings. His story moves on through oddly varied education and increasingly high level professional activity to his becoming a consultant, company-fixer, and constant round-the-world traveler…but that story isn’t chronologically straightforward. He keeps recalling, sometimes repetitiously, the many people who have been important to him, but the repetition is helpful, because who remembers all the names and relationships he’s talked about earlier? The book’s 280 pages are a picture to be viewed as a whole …kinda like a life. Good stuff.

“In this remarkable memoir, Allan invites readers on an unpredictable global journey …

Told through vivid vignettes – captures Allan’s journey of invention and transformation – revealing the man behind the robots. Blending the introspective depth of Paul Auster’s Winter Journal with the transformative arc of Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes. A compelling narrative of human ingenuity and perseverence.