Ernest Dawes trained under Mr. H.A. Kamphausen for 5 years at the Chemistry School at Melbourne University in the design and fabrication of laboratory glass apparatus.

He joined ICI in 1954 at the newly formed central Research Laboratories and established the glass engineering workshop. In 1966 Dawes formed his own company, Scientific Glass Engineering Pty. Ltd. Since this date his company, has expanded to become an international company with wholly owned subsidiaries in Great Britain, the United States, Germany and France with agents in over 60 countries.

Approximately 95% of their Australian manufactured chromatography accessory instruments are exported and the Company is the recipient of 4 Australian Government Export Awards.
Dawes has developed and successfully filed many patents on chromatographic instruments, His personal awards included:

(1) The Tswett Anniversary Medal for his contribution to Chromatography in 1978 by the Soviet Academy of Science

(2) OBE for his contribution to the Scientific Instrument Industry by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in 1980

(3) The Governor of Victoria Award for Significant Contribution to Export 1983

(4) The Victoria Enterprise Award 1979.