Frederick John Walcott Derham (21 July 1900 – 12 May 1953) was an Australian entrepreneurial businessman who founded what would become known as Nylex in 1927.[1][2]
John Derham grew up in Melbourne, where he studied at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School.[1] However, he was not very academic. Instead, he won the Head of the River title in his school rowing team in 1918. Due to his grandfather’s influence (Frederick Derham), he increasingly became interested in business and commodities. This would lead him to become a salesman in a variety of companies before the Depression.[1]
Derham began his career as an entrepreneurial plastics manufacturer in which he founded Victoria’s first plastics firm, the Australian Moulding Corporation