When he’s at work, Philip Meyer helps Microsoft’s partners build secure and scalable cloud technologies. As a Partner Technology Strategist with over 40 years of experience – 32 of them at Microsoft ANZ – he is an expert in everything from cloud to compliance. But there’s more to Philip than his nine-to-five. He’s also a husband, a dad to two daughters, the proud owner of two dogs and, most recently, a grandad. And it was this aspect of Philip’s life that led him to found ThinkUKnow Australia, a community that fights online child exploitation with one of the most powerful tools in the world: education.

An unexpected challenge

About 20 years ago, one of Philip’s daughters stumbled across something inappropriate online. “It was the early days of the internet,” he remembers. “She was in primary school and was sent home to do some research. So, she jumped on a computer and started searching. She typed one character wrong and up came some explicit material.” Being a technical person, Philip knew what to do on a practical front. But what about his daughter’s emotional welfare? “It was a chance to explore with her what images are of herself and of others are appropriate, and what shouldn’t be shared,” he explains. “We also talked about chat forums. I said, ‘Would you invite these people over to our place for tea or to play?’ and she said, ‘No, because I don’t know them’. I said, ‘That’s right, so you shouldn’t get to know them on the internet.”

Instigating change

Philip got to thinking further on the issue. He read about a UK-based organisation called Child Exploitation and Online Protection, and realised that something similar was required in Australia to protect children in the same way. Julie Inman-Grant, who is now the Australian eSafety Commissioner, was Microsoft’s Director of Internet Safety and Security at the time. When Philip suggested his concept to Julie and other colleagues at Microsoft, they unanimously agreed that the idea was worth pursuing. Together, they reached out to the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Along with the AFP, Julie picked up the concept, set up the program and handed the reins over to Philip.

Empowering carers to empower kids

While the AFP owns the program, now known as ThinkUKnow Australia, Philip’s involvement has meant that Microsoft is one of the sanctioned organisations that provides volunteers to support it. Philip and volunteers like him travel to schools and community centres across Australia, talking to parents and carers about how they can empower children and teenagers in their care to use technology safely and ethically. “We explain what image-based abuse, cyber-grooming and sextortion is. We educate people on how to understand when a scam or phishing attack is occurring,” says Philip.

“We have to keep children safe online”: How Philip uses his day job to make a difference

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