DRA brings hope to communities devastated by disaster. We unite the skills and experience of military veterans, emergency responders and motivated civilians to deploy Disaster Relief Teams around Australia and the world. We help people during some of their worst days.
Learn moreDisaster recovery is rewarding work. Be it flood, bushfire, cyclone or pandemic, Disaster Relief Australia (DRA) is here to help. With our army of dedicated volunteers, we respond to disasters and deliver support to those in need.
Learn moreVolunteers are the cornerstone of Disaster Relief Australia’s operations. With more than 3,000 members nationwide, our veteran-led tribe serves communities before, during and after natural disasters strike to strengthen resilience and deliver much needed relief and recovery services.
Learn moreNews and stories are the heartbeat of our mission. Discover the inspiring narratives of our dedicated volunteers and resilient communities we stand by. These stories vividly depict the impact of our work, showcase the power of compassion and unity and remind us that we can make a difference together.
Learn moreDeploying with DRA and supporting disaster affected communities is rewarding beyond measure. Through volunteering, corporate partnerships, financial donations or working with us, there are many ways to make a positive contribution and become a force for good.
Find out moreThere are many ways to make a positive contribution and bring hope to others. As a not-for-profit community cause, Disaster Relief Australia exists through the combined generosity of volunteers, donors, corporate partners and fundraisers.
Find out moreDisaster Relief Australia (DRA) is governed by its Corporate Governance Framework and the Disaster Relief Australia Board. The Board comprises of five members who jointly oversee the role of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Non-Executive, non-remunerated Chair
Dr Elizabeth Rushbrook is a Specialist Medical Administrator with a wide range of hospital and military experience. Dr Rushbrook rose steadily through the Navy ranks to Commodore, and now works with Queensland Health as the Executive Director Medical Services of Metro North Hospital and Health Service.
Non-Executive, non-remunerated Deputy Chair
Mr Hyman is Valuation Counsel at RHAS, a business division of Aon Plc and consults independently. He has supported a range of charitable institutions at various times over his career including the Parramatta Mission, Lindfield Synagogue, Kehillat Masada, Variety Club and the National Council of Jewish Women. Mr Hyman is also an elected Deputy of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, the roof body of NSW Jewry. In 2007 He was appointed a Life Fellow of the Australian Property Institute and in 2012 a Member of the Order of Australia.
Non-executive, non-remunerated Board member
Dave Smith served for over 34 years in the Australian Army, eventually reaching the rank of Brigadier. During his service he commanded at every level from platoon to brigade and saw operational service in East Timor, Solomon Islands and Afghanistan. He also held a number of key staff appointments focusing on strategic planning, strategy implementation and strategic risk management, seeing him make a noteworthy contribution to Australian Defence Force modernisation.
Non-executive, non-remunerated Board Member
During his military career, Major General Slater commanded at all levels of the Army from platoon to brigade level. In January 2011, he was appointed to lead the Flood Recovery Taskforce overseeing recovery from the 2010–2011 Queensland floods. This taskforce subsequently transitioned into the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, where Major General Slater remained until 31 August 2011. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2012 Australia Day Honours List and has since retired to the NSW East-Coast from where he conducts consultancy work.
Non-executive, non-remunerated Board Director
Meg McKechnie is the Chief Financial Officer at the University of New England. She is a Chartered Accountant, a qualified investigator and a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In private and public sector roles, Meg has specialised in analysing and advising on the financial position of organisations with responsibility for a broad range of reviews involving solvency, loss quantification, fraud, asset misappropriation, accounting irregularities and financial statement misstatements. Meg brings extensive experience in risk assessment and mitigation, governance and policy interpretation and compliance. She has deep regulatory knowledge obtained from roles at the Australian Securities & Investments Commission and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.
The CEO has responsibility for daily management of the organisation and Executive Team who advise on key strategic and operational matters.
Chief Executive Officer
Geoff Evans served as a member of the Australian Army’s Special Operations Command as both a commissioned and non-commissioned officer for 20 years. During this time, he served four operational deployments before being wounded in action in Afghanistan in December 2010. He served as fire fighter with Fire and Rescue NSW for 13 years, founded Homes for Heroes in 2013 to support homeless veterans and their families, and has been appointed on the Prime Ministerial Advisory Council on Veterans Mental Health for two terms.
Geoff co-founded Disaster Relief Australia with Chief Strategy Officer Markus Bucy in 2016. He was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer, in January 2017, and holds a BA focused on international relations from Deakin University and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
He served as a member of the Australian Army’s Special Operations Command for 20 years, served as fire fighter with Fire and Rescue NSW for more than a decade.
Chief Financial Officer
Mark first joined DRA as its Chief Financial Officer on a part-time basis following a successful working relationship that started in 2018 with his accounting business. In January 2023, Mark was appointed to the Chief Financial Officer role full-time to support the growth of the organisation.
Prior to joining DRA, Mark worked as a public accountant specialising in internal audit and fraud examination after studying accounting science.
Mark’s military experience includes 15 years with the South African Defence Force as a commissioned officer and special forces operator.
Chief Business Officer
Gary is a proven leader in global operations and business development with expertise in human-centric change management. His human-centered approach drives optimised operational efficiencies while maintaining responsible budget management and substantial growth without costly headcount turnover. This along with his blend of international business, operations management, sales management, risk, business analysis, government relations and business development allow him the opportunity to develop strategies that transcend BAU and drive meaningful change as Chief Business Officer at Disaster Relief Australia.
Gary’s military experience was as a Combat Medic in the US ARMY, which has resulted in developing his skills of effective decision making and critical thinking while providing calm and stable leadership under high pressure and crisis management scenarios. Gary has held security clearances in both military and private sector careers including both Secret and Top-Secret clearances (U.S).
DRA’s Chief Operating Officer, Fred Dangar first joined the organisation in June 2023 as its General Manager- Personnel Capabilities.
Following a 37-year army career – including six years with the army reserves – and prior to joining DRA, Fred worked in strategic planning roles within the New Sales Wales government.
Fred’s professional experience includes strategic planning and policy, leadership, training, operations, plus program management.
In his COO role, Fred will focus on the organisation’s strategic direction and operation readiness while bringing a passion to augment DRA’s response capabilities and training for volunteers as well as further enhancing DRA’s reputation.
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We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.
