Our team

Basil is a general surgeon with an interest in paediatric surgery and spent 15 years serving in Vanuatu’s tertiary referral hospital system. In 2019 he was awarded the Vanuatu Presidential Medal for Meritorious Service.

Basil has led and continues to support national Emergency Medical Team development in Vanuatu. He coordinated and deployed national and international EMTs in response to Tropical Cyclone Pam (2015), Ambae volcano disaster (2017,2018), Tropical Cyclone Harold (2020) and COVID-19 Repatriation, Quarantine and Community Transmission (2020, 2022).

Basil is an instructor on the EMST, CCrISP and MIMMS international courses run in the Pacific. He is a member of the Vanuatu Nursing Council and sits on the board of the Vanuatu Emergency Services Association. Basil is the national lead for MV HELPR-1 and he is based in Vanuatu as our Director of HELPR-1 Operations.

Barbara specialises in working with governments to coordinate health emergency operations during crises and design and implement strategies for the establishment of Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs). She is a WHO regional office and international health ministry relationship expert.

Her work has also involved managing the WHO Health Emergency Program, coordinating efforts with the Solomon Islands government, donor partners, NGOs, and other stakeholders to implement relevant health emergency activities.

More recently she worked with the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health to set up systems and procedures in preparation for a COVID-19 outbreak with a focus on repatriations, quarantine, and Infection Prevention and Control.

As Respond Global’s technical health advisor Barbara is responsible for managing strategic and operational support to our HELPR-1 operations in Vanuatu. She also provides technical health advice on infectious disease management to clients and is partnership leader for the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia, and Western Pacific and Solomon Islands Regional Offices, as well as the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Ministries of Health for Timor-Leste, Bhutan, Maldives, Vanuatu, and Nepal.

Barbara holds a Bachelor’s in Occupational Therapy and has held lecturing and tutoring positions at Solomon Islands National University in their Community-Based Rehabilitation Diploma program. She is currently completing her Masters of Infectious Diseases.

Rowan is our very capable and experienced Operations Support and Logistics Manager, based in Port Vila – he serves as a crucial link between Respond Global and the Government of Vanuatu Ministries, including the Ministry of Health and their relevant stakeholders and partners, to effectively coordinate the operations of HELPR-1.

Rowan is responsible for managing HELPR-1 operations from its home port in Port Vila, in addition to working onboard HELPR-1 in close collaboration with the HELPR-1 Co-Director, Dr. Basil Leodoro.

John is kept busy in the role of HELPR-1’s Logistics Lead – he works closely with the vessel Captain, mission lead, and clinical lead to facilitate the delivery of the mission objectives, in a manner that supports and contributes to positive and productive interactions amongst the broader mission community. John is pivotal in providing oversight to operational activities, with a particular focus on safety and security for team members.

John is also a talented photographer and captures our work beautifully in images.

Christianne, or Chris as she’s known to the team, has been with HELPR-1 since the start of our operations in Vanuatu, and is one of the youngest members of our team. Her dedication to supporting our mission in reaching remote populations is commendable and you will never see her without a smile on her face.

Chris supports our Logisitics Lead John in ensuring that teams have everything they need for their work ashore each day, and that equipment is ready to use when needed.

Stephanie ensures the smooth functoning of the shoreside operations for HELPR-1. She oversees general office finance and administration, procurement and supporting the Head Office in Australia with payroll for local staff.

Jack plays a crucial role in supporting the operations of the HELPR-1 warehouse by managing inventory, issuing supplies, maintaining records, and ensuring the efficient flow of goods to and from the vessel.

Catpain Wayne was born and raised in Samoa, attending school in New Zealand. After completing high school, he chose to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather and father by entering the marine industry.

Wayne’s first role was as a cook aboard one of Fullers ferries operating in Auckland Harbour. Motivated to progress, he worked my way up through college and gained experience as a deckhand, eventually earning his Master’s qualification. At the age of 20, he became one of the youngest Polynesians to command a commercial vessel.

During his time with Fullers, Wayne operated all of their vessels, ranging in size from 20 to 41 metres. He advanced to the position of Senior Master, where he was responsible for crew training and the assessment and sign-off of new Masters.

With an impressive marine career spanning over 30 years, Wayne has held positions with various organisations across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific, including supporting the film industry with marine operations, operating passenger ferries in Queensland, and involvement in marine infrastructure and recovery projects.

As current Master of HELPR-1, along with his brother Mathew (Matt), Wayne describes his time as both challenging and deeply rewarding, allowing him to contribute to critical missions across the Pacific.

Captain Mathew (Matt) was born in Samoa and after completing high school in New Zealand, he pursued tertiary studies in Suva, Fiji, enrolling in a Sport Science program. However, it soon became clear that his true passion lay with the ocean. This realisation marked the beginning of his maritime journey toward becoming a qualified captain.

Matt spent over a decade as Captain and Marine Engineer with Auckland’s premier ferry operator, Fullers, where he gained extensive experience in vessel operations and crew leadership. He was proudly entrusted with the role of Training Master aboard Superflyte, responsible for the training of all Captains onboard the company’s flagship vessel — a 41-meter high-speed catamaran, operating with a crew of 15 and a passenger capacity of 650.

His career has also taken him beyond New Zealand. Matt worked on the internationally broadcast TV show Survivor (US edition), supporting remote marine logistics, and later spent a period working in China, further broadening his global maritime exposure.

In recent years, he relocated to Australia, where he served for nine years as a Harbour Master and Skipper, managing coastal operations and leading marine teams across a range of vessels and conditions. Most recently, Matt joined Respond Global, and now serves as Master of HELPR-1 alongside his brother Wayne, contributing his extensive operational maritime experience to support humanitarian and emergency response missions.

Neal is one of two Bosuns who are on rotation together with our Captains. They play a key role in keeping the vessel running safely and smoothly, leading the deck crew, making sure all exterior maintenance is up to scratch, and help keep everything shipshape.

Stephen is one of two Bosuns who are on rotation together with our Captains. They play a key role in keeping the vessel running safely and smoothly, leading the deck crew, making sure all exterior maintenance is up to scratch, and help keep everything shipshape.

Our First Officer Charley is in charge of keeping all decks, topsides, storage areas, voids, and tanks clean and well-maintained, and making sure the deck and tenders run smoothly. He stays in close contact with the Master, Chief Engineer, and Mission Leaders to keep everything on track.

Our Second Officer looks after all the navigational planning and keeps charts and publications up to date. Syirus is also the go-to for anything to do with health, safety, and the environment on board, making sure everything runs safely and by the book.

Our Chief Engineer Charlie is responsible for the maintenance of the ship’s mechanical and electrical equipment to ensure HELPR-1 keeps running smoothly at all times.

As First Enginer, Steven is in charge of keeping all decks, topsides, storage areas, voids, and tanks clean and well-maintained, and making sure the deck and tenders run smoothly, working in close contact with the Master, Chief Engineer, and Mission Leaders to keep everything on track.

Brian is on engine room watch, making sure everything’s running safely and smoothly. He helps keep the engine rooms, tanks, voids, tiller flats, and desalination plant clean and well-maintained, working closely with the Chief Engineer and 1st Engineer.

Henri is responsible to the Chief Engineer and assists Charlie and Brian in keeping the engine operating efficiently, and assisting in troubleshooting when needed.

We have two deck hands onboard HELPR-1 and Jeffet has been with the boat since we began operations in 2022. He is responsible for the operation of our two tenders, Explorer and Jack Sparrow, conducting maintenance throughout the ship and on the tenders, and being on lookout duties when required.

We have two deck hands onboard HELPR-1, Lee and Jeffet. Together they are responsible for the operation of our two tenders, Explorer and Jack Sparrow, conducting maintenance throughout the ship and on the tenders, and being on lookout duties when required.

Our onboard housekeepers provide outstanding customer service in the areas of food service and the dining room and are responsible for maintaining the highest standard of accommodation presentation. With a mix of crew, government project teams and guests onboard at any one time, and 52 beds in total, our Housekeepers are kept busy ensuring everyone has a comfortable stay during their time onboard.

Our onboard housekeepers provide outstanding customer service in the areas of food service and the dining room and are responsible for maintaining the highest standard of accommodation presentation. With a mix of crew, government project teams and guests onboard at any one time, and 52 beds in total, our Housekeepers are kept busy ensuring everyone has a comfortable stay during their time onboard.

Our Chef Rocky is a key member of our crew, with a hungry team to feed three times a day. He is supported by his galley hand Nancy. Together they produce an amazing number of options each day, ensuring no one goes hungry. Fish is always a highlight, caught straight off the bow of the ship!

Nancy our galley hand supports Chef Rocky in preparing three meals a day, and keeping the galley area clean and tidy to professional standards.

Agnes is a long-serving member of our crew and an integral part of the HELPR-1 team, providing comprehensive administrative support aboard HELPR-1, including daily manifest updates, scheduling, night watch coordination, and managing sign-in/out procedures. Agnes also supports the captain, chief engineer, and medical team with various administrative tasks and ensuring the smooth daily operations aboard the vessel, always with a smile on her face!

Glenys is one of two Registered Nurses who are permanently stationed aboard HELPR-1 and who provide clinical support and training to nurses based in remote communities, as well as providing general nursing services to residents and our onboard teams.

Milton is one of two Registered Nurses who are permanently stationed aboard HELPR-1 and who provide clinical support and training to nurses based in remote communities, as well as providing general nursing services to residents and our onboard teams.

Kalte collects and records data about the health services provided to remote communities, including vaccination numbers and other medical provisions. The data is essential for informing wider health outreach strategies implemented by the Ministry of Health.

Yolanda is a highly experienced program manager specializing in climate adaptation, emergency preparedness, and health program delivery. Currently leading the Climate Adaptation capability of HELPR-1 in Vanuatu, she oversees impactful projects like the remote electrification of over 130 community institutions, supporting Vanuatu’s National Energy Road Map. Her work involves partnering with the Department of Energy, managing a local team, and implementing innovative solutions, including digitizing facility assessments, building sustainable operations frameworks, and training solar technicians.

At Respond Global, Yolanda spearheaded the Australian Government’s Rapid Antigen Testing Program, providing training and support to over 1,200 Residential Aged Care Facilities and other organizations. She also supported WHO EMRO and SEARO in assisting several countries.

Yolanda has over 15 years of experience in emergency and disaster preparedness and response. She served as Chief of Section for UNOCHA in Southern and Eastern Africa, developing and facilitating workshops and authoring a field manual on community-based early warning. Earlier, she worked with UNICEF in Liberia and deployed to Haiti with the UN for earthquake relief. In Australia, she strengthened Queensland Health’s emergency management, including the SHECC, and deployed to Christchurch following the 2011 earthquake, receiving a Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal.

Jason is an electrical technician who joined the CAP team in 2024. He services and repair community infrastructure and installs new solar systems on remote health facilities.

Jameson is an electrical technician who joined the CAP team in 2024. He services and repair community infrastructure and installs new solar systems on remote health facilities.

Alvie is an electrical technician who joined the CAP team in 2025. He services and repair community infrastructure and installs new solar systems on remote health facilities.

Stephen is a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene technician who joined the CAP team in 2025. He is currently assessing and repairing water and sanitation facilities in remote community facilities.

Basil is an electrical technician who joined the CAP team in 2025. He services and repair community infrastructure and installs new solar systems on remote health facilities.

Kaluwin is an Electrical Engineer and his role is as a liaison between the CAP team and the Department of Energy and the National Green energy fund

Data Officer Cecilia is responsible for the collection of data including community assessments, and is a qualified telecommunications installer.