Gordon Denoon

Experience

• 

  Australian Public Service

  Mar 1995 - Jan 1996

  ASO 1

  Australian Industrial Property Organisation Commonwealth Superannuation Administration (Comsuper) Department of Industrial Relations

• 

  Child Support Agency (Australia)

  Jan 1996 - Nov 1997

  Graduate Administrative Assistant

  Within the Australian Taxation Office, I was selected to join the GAA Program within the CSA and undertook a number of rotations and projects. Completed the Tax Officer Development Program (TOD 1), which included studies in taxation law, administrative law and ATO technical subjects.

• 

  CARE Australia

  Mar 2003 - Dec 2003

  Senior Program Officer

  Desk Officer

• 

  CARE Iraq

  Dec 2003 - Mar 2005

  Senior Program Officer

  Contract and program management

• 

  CARE Indonesia

  Mar 2005 - Sept 2005

  Senior Program Officer

  Managed a programme of 28 projects

• 

  CARE Indonesia

  Jun 2006 - Aug 2006

  Consultant Senior Program Officer, CARE

  Contract management, proposal writing, budget preparation, for the earthquake in Yogyakarta

• 

  CARE Kenya

  Nov 2006 - Nov 2007

  Senior Program Manager, CARE

  Working in the world’s largest refugee camp I managed a team of 206 national staff and 1950 refugee staff and was responsible for security, HR, logistics, finance and program support. Responsibilities:• Manager of refugee program in the Dadaab refugee camps with programs in 7 sectors• Managed a team of 206 national staff and 1950 refugee staff• Responsible for security, HR, logistics, finance and program supportAchievements:• Successfully led responses to flooding, cholera, rift valley fever and teachers strike• Ensured timely and accurate reporting and budget tracking of implementation with 100% burn rate • Through successful proposals increased program funding by 20% Show less

• 

  United Nations OCHA

  Jan 2008 - Jan 2009

  Humanitarian Affairs Officer

  Responding to three very different emergency responses I provided expert Humanitarian support and advice to government and the Humanitarian community as part of coordinating the emergency response. Responsibilities:• Established relationships with a range of UN, INGO, National NGO and government partners • Led coordination efforts at the national level including monitoring and evaluation and reporting• Supported the Humanitarian Coordinator and advised on humanitarian law and coordination efforts Achievements:• Working with a complex and politicised humanitarian community in South Africa ( I advised civil society and government on humanitarian principles and standards and provided regularly reporting • Working in Zimbabwe on reporting and coordination of the response to Cholera I produced weekly situation reports and attended all coordination meetings to promote a common approach to the response • Working in Pakistan I was based in Peshawar providing coordination and reporting services for the humanitarian community, supporting funding appeals and general coordination Show less

• 

  UNOCHA Kyrgyzstan Seconded by REDR

  Jul 2010 - Dec 2010

  Senior Humanitarian Affairs Officer

  As head of office I established the team, set up operations to coordinate the emergency response in country. Responding to the ethnic violence in the country I arrived within 2 weeks of the violence in a tense and volatile situation and led the office for UN OCHA. Responsibilities:• Established an office in Bishkek and recruited five national staff • Established relationships with a range of UN, INGO, National NGO and government partners • Supported the Humanitarian Coordinator and advised on humanitarian law and coordination efforts Achievements:• Working with the humanitarian community I developed a common plan of action, promoting coordination and drafting a funding appeal. After an extensive consultation process, the humanitarian appeal of 94 million USD was funded to 72.8%, an uncommonly high level of funding in the sector.• Produced 33 general information products including situation reports, 3 W reports, beneficiary communications and donor summary reports Show less

• 

  REDR UK

  Apr 2011 - Jul 2013

  Regional Director- South Sudan/ Kenya

  Established an office of 30 plus in South Sudan immediately after independence and oversaw expansion in the region. Also established an office in Nairobi with fifteen staff and 40 consultant trainers implementing innovative training and capacity building for the humanitarian community in East Africa.Responsibilities:• Established partnerships with a range of UN, INGO, National NGO and government partners • Marketing and business development, financial tracking, and legal compliance with local laws • Responsible for monitoring and evaluation and reporting internally Achievements:• Established two very successful programmes in Kenya and South Sudan, achieving all key objectives and assisted to reshape the way RedR UK implements activities globally • Initiated a very successful partnership with multiple organisations to deliver a training and preparedness project named KIRA (Kenya Inter-cluster Rapid Assessment) which is now the benchmark for emergency preparedness in Assessments in the region and beyond. • Secured funding of $1.5m US which enabled training of over three thousand aid workers in the region. • Led implementation of innovative training approaches including modular approaches, blended learning, mentoring and group tailor made training. Show less

• 

  Active Engagement

  Sept 2013 - Nov 2015

  Executive Director

  Established and managed a successful consulting company in Nairobi Kenya, providing aid and logistics consultancies in the East Africa region and beyond.Responsibilities:• Set up company offices in Nairobi • Developed three year strategic plan • Established partnerships with a range of UN, INGO, National NGO and government partners • Responsible for Marketing and business development • Lead for financial tracking, budget preparation and forecasting • Responsible Legal and Finance compliance with Kenyan Law • Undertook consultancies for CARE, Plan, Save the Children, RedR UK and UN OCHA Achievements:• Established a successful consulting firm in Nairobi Kenya providing a range of consulting services to the humanitarian and aid sectors in East Africa. • On a six month consultancy I managed a programme of $3,000,000 in multiple sectors and multiple donors for Save the Children Egypt. In this role I authored concept notes, proposals and reports for multiple donors, and managed a team of 180 staff in Cairo. In this programme we implemented an innovative project using technology to survey 200,000 Syrian refugees in Egypt. • I undertook and consultancy for UN OCHA (Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) Yemen and led tracking and analysis of Logistics, Shipping and cargo for the humanitarian community. Provided Humanitarian advice and analysis to the deconfliction cell in Riyadh. Information I researched, drafted and released in Yemen reshaped the dialogue on the Saudi naval blockade of Yemen. The secretary of state for International Development used my material in advocacy and policy decisions relating to UK assistance for the emergency.• In 2014 I undertook a structural review for Plan Kenya with recommendations for a new personnel structure with significant structural changes and staff reductions. In 2015 I undertook a review of the effectiveness of the 2014 changes, and found all recommendations had been successfully implemented. Show less

• 

  Save the Children International

  May 2014 - Oct 2014

  Emergency Team Leader

  Managed a programme of $3,000,000 in multiple sectors and multiple donors, authored concept notes, reports and proposals for various donors, managed a team of 180 staff in Cairo

• 

  REDR UK

  Oct 2014 - Dec 2014

  Country Director

  Acting Country Director providing surge cover, responsible for strategic planning, HR, budget planning and expenditure, security focal point, program management and strategic implementation.

• 

  United Nations OCHA

  May 2015 - Aug 2015

  Senior Humanitarian Affairs Officer

  Provide Humanitarian coordination and advice on the Yemen emergency response. Working for UN OCHA Yemen I led tracking and analysis of Logistics, shipping and cargo for the humanitarian community, provided Humanitarian advice and analysis to the deconfliction cell in Riyadh.

• 

  Engineers Australia

  May 2016 - Apr 2017

  Operations Manager Learned Societies

  Led a diverse team of professional staff covering multiple complex areas of member services to the Learned Societies of Engineers Australia.Responsibilities:• Development of policies and strategies for the learned society Library, Knowledge management and Awards areas • Developed operational plan and supporting budget for learned society activities • Facilitated operational improvement, innovation and change management • Managed four staff • Representation as requiredAchievements:• Oversaw the awards process for 60+ Engineers Australia awards • Managed the role out of a Community of Practice Pilot • Jointly developed strategic several planning documents • Authored a volunteers’ handbook Show less

• 

  Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

  May 2017 - Dec 2018

  Assistant Director Disaster Risk and Recovery

  Led policy development, advice and implementation for disaster recovery in the Humanitarian program, including sovereign insurance and stakeholder engagement Key Achievements: • Successfully led the research and design of an award winning program for post disaster solutions of prefabricated infrastructure to support the government’s Humanitarian Strategy• Support to recovery program following cyclone Gita in Tonga, briefing Inter-Departmental Committee and executive briefing for ministerial visit• Authored various ministerial submissions on international disasters, prepared ministerial and SES briefings on recovery and disaster risk reduction and provided a range of policy advice Show less

• 

  Australian Department of Home Affairs

  Dec 2018 - Sept 2022

  Critical Incident Planning Branch, Plans and Capability Division, Emergency Management and Coordination Group. Responsible for stakeholder engagement of the Trusted Information Sharing Network, and delivering the Critical Infrastructure Resilience Strategy (CIRS), including provision of policy advice

  • Assistant Director

    Jul 2021 - Sept 2022

  • Acting Director

    Jul 2020 - Jul 2021

  • Acting Director

    Dec 2018 - Aug 2020
• 

  Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

  Sept 2022 - Oct 2023

  Senior Health Program Advisor

  Providing project and program management services on the Australian aid program. Country focal point for several countries, risk advisor and GEDSI advisor.

• 

  Carers Australia

  Oct 2023 - Jun 2024

  National Director of Programming and Policy

  Responsible for leading and managing the establishment, implementation, and progression of national programs and resources for carers. The role also involves contributing to the development and implementation of the organization’s strategic objectives and aims. The position requires leadership, program management, and strategic skills, and be able to manage a small, professional team. Carers Australia is the national peak body representing Australia’s unpaid carers, advocating on their behalf to influence policies and services at a national level. They advocate and lobby on a wide range of issues that affect carers and manage the delivery of national programs, support, and services for carers across Australia. Show less

• 

  Freelance

  Oct 2024 - now

  Consultant - International humanitarian response and crisis management