Volunteers

Chileen Lorenzo is a registered nurse in the Philippines. She previously worked as a Manager in various food establishments. Her love for service and caring for people made her decide to undergo a degree in nursing; a career which holds more meaning to her. She never gets tired of sharing herself even in long hours of work especially in time of calamities.

Dan is a qualified doctor who is providing medical assistance to those affected by the typhoons in the Philippines.

Richard is a qualified doctor who is providing medical assistance to those affected by the typhoons in the Philippines.

Merica Linga is a registered nurse in the Philippines . She holds a degree in tourism and worked as a Head Marketing Coordinator for several years before responding to a higher calling and switching to a career in nursing. Merica's extensive academic and vocational experiences make her a valuable asset to AAI. Merica enjoys spending time with people and visiting new places. Merica is a dedicated nurse who cares for her patients with compassion, sincerity and heart.

Donald is a registered nurse with 20 years of critical care experience. Having worked on health and environmental issues in the  USA for the last 20 years, Donald has now turned his attention to international aid relief with AAI. Since 2006 he has volunteered providing medical aid after the earthquake in  Jogjakarta , Indonesia , the civil war in  East Timor and post-tsunami relief efforts in Pangandaran , Indonesia . After assisting in Burma in June of 2008 following Cyclone Nargis which killed over 100,000 people, Donald returned to SE Asia this summer to provide medical attention to over 500,000 displaced persons from the Philippines latest cyclone disasters.

Gordon Willcock has studied in the fields of International Relations and Strategic Studies and he is currently researching for his PhD at the University of Melbourne. Gordon has travelled extensively throughout Africa, Europe and South Asia and has lived in India and Russia. Gordon began working for AAI as part of the relief effort in Pakistan after the Kashmir earthquake in 2005. Gordon recently returned from the Philippines where he was working as the Project Manager for the Disaster Assessment and Response Team.

Jamin Mulvey is an Australian Doctor practicing in Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Aviation-based Retrievals. Jamin has worked in many remote areas, including Southern Africa, Papua New Guinea, the Pacific and Antarctica. Currently based in Queensland, Jamin has been involved with AAI for over 4 years. His deployments includes the medical-response to massive earthquakes in Pakistan in 2005, and the current medical-response to flooding in the Philippines from Typhoon Ketsana. Jamin is completing his Masters in Public Health and will be involved with medical training of future volunteers working with AAI.

Emma Sturrock is from Ontario, Canada where she completed an Honours Degree in Health Science at Western University in London, Ontario. She worked in child protection and community development prior to coming to Australia. She moved to Melbourne in 2008 to complete her Masters of International Health at Monash University. Emma has a vivid interest in travelling and health and as a recent graduate she is enthusiastic to get involved with AAI.

Megan Nagy is a fulltime university student currently studying International development at Victoria University in Melbourne , Australia . The AAI medical training team first meet Megan whilst she was working as a volunteer teacher providing education to Karen refugees on the Thai-Burma Boarder. We were so impressed with her dedication and understanding of the refugee situation in Thailand that we invited Megan to volunteer with AAI.

Since the beginning of this year Megan has been an active member with AAI, firstly completing the AAI Introduction to Humanitarian Operations course and then assisting with the development of the AAI Karen Refugee Education Project. Megan's exceptional skills and commitment led to her being offered the AAI Volunteer Coordinator Position. Many of you may have now been contacted by Megan in response to available positions within AAI or to update you information on our volunteer database.

Megan has done an outstanding job for AAI and manages a well administered volunteer database. Megan has great potential for an excellent career in the humanitarian and development profession and we hope to continue to help develop Megan's experience in this field. Thank you for being part of the AAI headquarters team Megan.

Born in Boorowa, country NSW and completing her high school in Yeppoon, central QLD, Penny went onto Brisbane to complete her nursing training. She is a registered nurse of 28 years, most of her experience been in orthopedic nursing. For the last four years Penny has been working at a private hospital in the mixed surgical ward. She completed her postgraduate certificate in Orthopedic Nursing at the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital of London. After which she returned to a Brisbane pubic hospital where she was the nurse unit manager for the orthopedic department.

She chose to come to Timor Leste after she completed a workshop on Introduction to Humanitarian Work conducted by AAI, and was offered a position as a volunteer registered nurse in Timor Leste. Her role at AAI Timor Leste is a volunteer registered nurse participating in remote area clinics.

Tanya McKenny is a final year medical student at the University of Sydney, currently in Timor Leste with AAI as part of her elective term. Tanya has a keen interest in International Health and remote medicine with previous experience in indigenous communities in Australia's Northern Territory. As Medical Project assistant, Tanya will be working with our medical team on AAI's rural healthcare project on Atauro Island.

Nairana is a registered nurse from Timor-Leste who joined AAI in November 2007. She has worked in Australia, England and Northern Ireland primarily accident and emergency departments. She has a Diploma in Tropical Nursing and has interests in primary health care, health promotion and community development.

Daniel Pongsamma has a degree in Public Relations and communications and worked his way into the Supervisor role after showing great leadership in community engagement and organisation during the emergency phase of the operations in Java. Having proven his abilities as a mid level manager Daniel took on the role as national coordinator for other AAI programs, including reconstruction, water and sanitation, and emergency operations.

Daniel has been heavily involved in community engagement for all AAI programs and has developed and lead training in hygiene promotion, building techniques, and development of AAI's initial disaster preparedness and prevention proposed programs. Additionally Daniel has undertaken Train the Trainer training with AAI and humanitarian operations training.

Niko Herlambang is a qualified civil engineer and has been an engineer supervisor and 2IC for all of AAI's reconstruction projects in Java. Under the direction of the Program Director and Manager Niko has supervised all of AAI's building teams in health facility, school, and watsan reconstruction activities. Niko has also been responsible for all reporting and development AAI's data bases.

He has proven abilities in organisation and management of multiple numbers of building teams. Niko is also well aware of Australian standards of building control having worked on AAI building projects.

Doctor Julie Alexander graduated from The Queens University of Belfast, Northern Ireland in 2002. She has significant experience in obstetrics/ gynaecology and gained MRCGP (UK) in 2006.

Since then she has worked extensively in General Practice with an emphasis on women's health and family planning. She moved to Sydney, Australia in 2007 where she has been gaining further experience in emergency and trauma management.

Julie has a lifelong interest in tropical medicine and has travelled extensively throughout the developing world. Following her posting with AAI she intends to complete formal training in tropical medicine and public health before continuing with overseas work.

David is a former member of the Australian Defence Force and now resides in West Java Indonesia where he acts as AAI's Country Representative and Assessment Team Leader. He has responded to numerous disasters in Indonesia including the May 05 earthquake where he acted as a Coordinator for the initial response and subsequent recovery programs.

Drew O'Laughlin is a qualified Project Manager from the USA and has joined AAI as a volunteer construction project assistant. Drew has been working with the Country Manager, Dave Fuller on water projects. He has been helping to coordinate local construction companies to assist in the installation of water filters for a number of AAI's water projects. He also did an assessment on the possibility of installing a water filter at the Community Health Clinic on Atauro Island.

Kelli O'Laughlin is an emergency physician from the USA and has recently completed a masters of public health. Kelli has been in Timor Leste with AAI for the last month. She assisted with the mobile clinics on Atauro Island. She also designed a surveillance system to help track communicable diseases in the island communities. Working with the AAI Country Staff, Dr. O'Laughlin has written a survey on malaria perceptions and attitudes that will be given to the people on Atauro to help guide future bed net distributions and malaria teaching campaigns. During her time in Dili, Kelli has spent time giving medical lectures to local staff and has worked at the Bairo Pité Clinic.

Tom finished his medical degree in Australia in 2004 and has been recently working in rural and remote emergency care in outback Australia .

Tom is adventurous by nature and has Travel through the developing world - journeyed through South East Asia, Middle East, Cook Islands, Peru plus NZ, Canada , US, England & Scandinavia. Also regular distance runs (half marathons), road cycling, scuba diving (PADI rescue diver) and surfing (not quite Kelly Slater).

Tom joined AAI to make a difference in healthcare in the developing world through an inspiring and rewarding career in international aid work. After completing the AAI Introduction to Humanitarian Operations course Tom deployed with AAI's Disaster Response and Assessment Team to the Burma Cyclone in May 2008

Heather is a Family Nurse Practitioner from Oregon, USA.  She has extensive experience providing reproductive health care and family medicine. She has done medical volunteer work in Cambodia, Philippines and Sri Lanka.  Heather volunteered with AAI in East Timor in 2007.

Originally from New Zealand, Frances is a registered nurse who has been working in Australia for close to five years. Frances has post graduate qualifications in intensive care nursing. Her interests are primarily in critical care with experience in intensive care and emergency nursing. She has recently spent time working in a community in the Northern Territory focused on Indigenous health. Frances enjoys travelling and the challenge of working in new environments. She has a keen interest in humanitarian work thus has joined AAI working in Timor-Leste focusing on health promotion and primary health care to rural populations.

Having successfully completed AAI's Introduction to Humanitarian Operation course, Brad was selected for AAI's Disaster Response and Assessment Team to respond to the Burma Crisis. Brad volunteered with AAI to be the Information Officer firstly operating in Thailand to coordinate with UN and other international bodies. Brad has now moved into Burma to continue the role and to undertake logistical projects to ensure aid gets to the most needy people in Burma .

Brad's expertise is in Project Management and logistics with eight years experience in coordinating overseas relief and development projects for an number of international NGO's.

Dennis Stempler is an American E.R. doctor. Although his international experience is less extensive than many of the others, he has over 20 years experience in the field of emergency medicine and wilderness medicine. He joined AAI in Pakistan 2005 after an email sent by Larry Stock requesting help was forwarded to 3 other people before ending up with him. Reconnecting with his hippie roots, he flew to Pakistan a few days later. He started as the newcomer and ended up as one of the medical directors. Dennis also went to Jogjakarta in 2006 to help with earthquake relief and Philippines in December 2006 with typhoon relief.

Joe holds a degree in Conflict Resolution from the University of Bradford 's respected Centre for Conflict Resolution in the UK . Before joining AAI, he worked for several local authorities in the UK , coordinating various city-wide projects in the education and youth work sectors.

Joe has several years experience traveling, living and working in developing countries and situations of conflict. Whilst working in Northern Ireland , he volunteered for the Peace & Reconciliation Group (PRG), an organization which mediates between Loyalist and Nationalist paramilitary factions, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the British Army. He received mediation training from PRG and is now a qualified facilitative mediator, with experience mediating in both Northern Ireland and England .

Elsje Fourie is the AAI's Community Engagement Manager in Yogyakarta . Before joining the project, she assisted in the coordination of the policy and practice activities of INCORE, a conflict resolution institute in Northern Ireland. She has also worked for the Japanese NGO Peace Boat, and for United Nations University in Tokyo . She has two postgraduate degrees in international relations from the University of Bradford, England. Originally from South Africa, she has lived in several countries and is currently based in the UK.

Suman is a medical doctor from Australia who recently completed his first mission with AAI on the Timor-Leste project. Suman is currently a physician (internal medicine) trainee in Melbourne . He completed medical school at the University of Newcastle and has recently completed a Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine from James Cook University . He has had previous international health experience in India and Mexico and has been working in Indigenous Health in Australia in 2007.

Coming from working with the UN, she is the new Medical Co-ordinator of the Timor Leste Project. Marion grew up in Goolgawi, south-west of NSW where she owns a sheep and wheat property on which her children currently live.

Marion attended Nurses Training at Griffith Base Hospital. She has specific skills in surgical, pediatric, burns, blood bank and pathological collection. She also specialized in education in the fields of sexual and reproductive health and chronic diseases. Before heading to Timor Leste she was nursing in remote Australian communities, and most recently based at The Darwin Private Hospital.

After the unrest at the beginning of this year, Marion contacted a friend in the UN and offered to assist, her resume was submitted without her knowledge and next thing she new she was offered a job with UMOTIL now known as UNMIT.

Marion has been in Timor Leste for the past 14 months and brings with her valuable national experience.

After volunteering in Pakistan for AAI in December 2005, Corie changed career direction saying goodbye to over ten years in Cartography to enroll full time in the Masters of International Development at RMIT. While keen to complete the course by June 2008, the offer to volunteer again with AAI in their Community Disaster Preparedness Program in Java, Indonesia was the perfect opportunity to combine the theoretical with the practical. She is passionate about empowering others to take advantage of the opportunities/choices available to them and seek personal satisfaction through their achievements. She hopes to bring her diverse set of skills, both technical and interpersonal, to the already talented team in Java and looks forward to making a significant contribution to the team while learning as much as possible.

Michael Gloeckle lives in northern NSW with his wife Jill. He has an automotive and construction management background and assisted in the Bantul area with various water and sanitation projects and construction supervision.

Michael has recently again returned to Java with AAI this time as the Construction Manager. Michael is facilitating the construction of 3 health facilities that are being built with earthquake resistant technology. Michael is also transferring updated building skills to members of the local community.

Crystal Brown, a Bachelor level Australian registered nurse specialised in Acute Spinal at the Victorian Spinal Cord Injuries unit in Melbourne . Qualified in Adult Education, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, preceptoring/ mentoring / educating and assessing new nurses, refresher nurses, graduates and nursing students including on ward teaching. With fifteen years experience in geriatrics including Nurse in Charge, a Spinal Injuries Unit in England in 2005 Nursing experience includes accident and emergency, orthopaedics, stroke, post traumatic stress syndrome, mental illness and mental impairment, behavioural issues, acquired brain injuries, community based care rehabilitation, basic paediatrics

Crystal Joined the AAI team in June 2006 as a part of the Emergency Relief Team in Yogjakarta responding to the earthquake in late May. Duties included field based work and related documentation, teaching and reporting writing. Crystal has now been working in Timor Leste since March 2007 assisting in design, organisation, implementation and evaluation of health training to local professionals and the general community alongside various primary health care programs and hygiene initiatives.

Emma is a Registered Nurse and medical scientist from Adelaide who grew up in rural South Australia and Victoria . With a Bachelor of Health Sciences majoring in Pathology, Emma Clements worked in microbiology pathology laboratories prior to training as a Registered Nurse in Adelaide . With a nursing background in general medical and surgical wards, and Intensive Care, Emma recently spent nine months working in rural and remote South Australia . Her experience of both tropical illnesses diagnosis and primary health care prompted her interest in Tropical Medicine in which she is currently studying for a Masters of Public Health, her particular interest being Communicable Disease Control.

Emma joined the AAI team in early July as a Project Nurse and has played a major role in providing capacity building through up skilling the local nurses. Working within the Timor Leste Treatment protocol guidelines, she is working on increasing knowledge of disease diagnosis to ultimately improve health outcomes for the most vulnerable populations of Timor Leste.

Sahba Delshad is AAIs Health Promotion Co-ordinator in Timor Leste. Having grown up and lived most her life in rural Australia (Wagga Wagga, Launceston and Lismore), she has just left a teaching job in at University of Western Sydney were she completed a Bachelor degree in Health Science and a Double major in Health Promotion and Health Service Management, Sahba Delshad has been undertaking a needs analysis in the Aileu District. Functioning within the governmental guidelines Sahba has been working with the AAI team to develop Community Based Training. With a passion for international public health and community development, past experience with Indigenous, migrant and refugee populations Sahba is developing community information programs that can not only be implemented in the districts, but that local health staff can be trained in order to maintain sustainability once AAI has left.

Since her arrival in mid July Sahba has worked closely with the AAI Project Nurses and the local medical staff to create Community Based Training materials focusing on breast feeding, malaria, TB, diarrhea and nutrition.

Sasha Poll is an experienced medical relief worker most recently dedicating 7 months to Tsunami relief in Indonesia as a Medical Coordinator for a large NGO. Prior to the Tsunami, Sasha had been a rural health nurse operating in remote areas of Thailand as an independent partitioner. Sasha is a bachelor level registered nurse with specialisation in paediatric psych, ER, and haematology oncology.

Sasha was instrumental as part of the Emergency Response Team that mobilized a first response to the March 28th earthquake on Nias Island saving thousands of lives in the first five days after the earthquake.

Sasha initially assisted the AAI Emergency Medical Response Team (EMRT) who deployed to Pakistan directly after the earthquake by providing vital medical logistics support in Bangkok . She then went to the earthquake that hit Java in May 2006 and Timor leste in 2007.

Jason was raised on a beef farm outside Listowel, Ontario, Canada. He completed a Master's Degree in Nutrition at University of Guelph in 1999. Attended medical school at St. George's University School of Medicine, West Indies from 1999 - 2003. Completed Emergency Medicine Training at Alameda County Medical Center, Oakland CA in 07/2007. Began Fellowship in Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Oakland Children's Hospital in 08/2007 and is an avid sportsman who loves hockey.

Anna Dyer is a nurse with certificates in midwifery, infant and family health, renal an audiometry. She has worked in community health in NSW and ACT for 16 years as a clinical nurse specialist in child and family health and nurse audiometry in both urban and rural communities. For the past three years Anna has been a volunteer with the Afghan refugee community in Australia as an English tutor, supporter and advocate.

Elizabeth Headley has a Bachelor of Arts Communications and International Studies Masters of International Public Health. Elizabeth has worked in the patient care field for 6 years in the areas of general surgery and cardiothoracic medicine. Elizabeth trained regional health workers in public health and implementing appropriate public health interventions in the earthquake ravaged region of Kashmir, Pakistan in 2005.

Melissa comes from Drouin South, Australia. She has a Bachelor in International Studies from Flinders University and currently completing a Masters in International Urban and Environmental Management from RMIT University. Melissa went to Pakistanin 2005 to work with iEARN Pakistan and the World Education Corp, but joined AAI during a weeks break from her other duties and headed up the clean up the world campaing.

Bill Rohs is an experienced humanitarian relief worker who returned from Tsunami affected Indonesia where he worked on programs in earthquake-stricken areas of North Sumatra. Bill is a self-starter, small business and restaurant owner with over 15 years experience. Art is another passion and he holds an advanced degree and is experienced in art education from kindergarten to 12th graders. He has a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, is avid outsdoorsmen and skier with extensive travel to many developing countries. Bill went to Pakistan in 2005.

Neena Rohs is an experienced humanitarian relief worker who was a Medical Director in Indonesia working on programs in earthquake-stricken areas of North Sumatra. Neena has an American College Board Certified Emergency Medicine, trained in Denver program, worked in community (private and public settings) for over 3 years post-certification. Adjunct Faculty, University of Denver Graduate School of International Studies, taught International Health. Has 2 years training in General Surgery at Oregon Health Sciences Center and MS in Tropical Public Health from Harvard University, Master's Thesis on the impact of malaria on pregnancy. A BA in International Health, Stanford University. Has done nonprofit consulting, fundraising, and program experience for organizations in India, Nepal, and Latin America and an experienced mountaineer and climber with extensive travel to many developing countries Neena went to Pakistan in 2005.

David Wegman is an Architecture student from Melbourne University and has taken time off from his studies to volunteer for AAI in Kashmir in 2005. Dave has travelled extensively throughout South-East Asia and after compleating two and a half months in Kashmir as a member of AAI's shelter program he has returned to Melbourne to continue his degree.

Denise graduated from Purdue University School of nursing in 1990. She worked for 7 years in Critical Care specializing in Cardiac patients. Worked as Charge Nurse and team leader for the hospital Code Team, responding to all arrests house wide.

The last 9 years have been spent in various types of home care and worked for the Children's' Memorial Home Care, providing pediatric infusions, assessment, and general pediatric care for approximately 2.5 yrs.

For the past 5 years Denise has held a management position in Home Care and is responsible for 10+ employees and the handling of the day to day business. Denise went to Pakistan in 2005.

Glen graduated 2001 as a licensed vocational nurse, following graduation he worked for 2 years at Ben Taub the county trauma hospital in neruo med-surg and the emergency department. For the past 2 years he has worked in home health. He is also certified in fire, emergency medicine, and emergency and confined space rescue. He is knowledgeable in IV therapy, wound care and all aspects of assessment. Prior to nursing Glenn worked in the Chemical plant industry for 25 years with 13 of those years at the supervisory level. He is currently working on obtaining his RN. Glen went to Pakistan in 2005.

Cynthia is a graduate of Northwestern University School of Nursing. From 1999 to 2003, she competed in “Adventure Racing” and was a member of three teams. Her work experience includes ICU, cath lab, research (primarily in cardiology). The last 19 months, has managed the home care office at The University of Chicago, where she gained considerable experience in traumatic and surgical wound care. Daily activities include patient teaching to support the patient's transition to home with diverse diagnoses and applications. Cynthia went to Pakistan in 2005.

Joanne holds 2 diplomas in nursing, one in psychiatric nursing and a diploma in nursing, totaling 30 years. She is originally from Canada, but got to Texas as fast as she could. For the past twelve years she has worked in management doing start up programs in rural hospitals, she has held positions in regional programming, executive management, and Director of nursing, currently she is the administrator of the Houston, Texas branch of Dyna Care Home health. Her diverse background in nursing includes infectious diseases, medical neuro, gastroenterology, rheumatology, psychiatry and is competent in infusion therapy, wound care and is able to do assessments including the bio-psycho-social elements of those in her care. She is currently working towards the completion of a Bachelors of Science in nursing, on the fast track to a master's degree. Joanne went to Pakistan in 2005.

Dr. Bryan Chaffee, M.D. was an Emergency Medicine Attending at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco , California. He trained at Harbor-UCLA with Dr. Larry Stock, M.D. He has traveled extensively around the entire world including the Middle East and has done medical volunteer work in both Peru and Columbia . Bryan went to Pakistan in 2005.

Bryan died October on 25, 2006 on the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania, Africa. Click here to read our respects.

Jason is an intensive care paramedic with close to 8 years experience. He has worked for 3 different ambulance services across Australia and has worked as a paramedic with the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia at Ayres Rock. Jason has a passion for travel and adventure, so the opportunity to visit Pakistani Kashmir in 2005 was one he embraced. With the help of another Australian medical company, Immediate Assistants (www.ias.com.au), he provided clinical experience at remote clinics, treating patients affected by the disaster. Volunteering for AAI is one of the most rewarding endeavours Jason has undertaken. He plans on doing further work in the field as opportunity arises.

Terry Wohler is an American registered nurse. She has over 30 years of nursing experience, the last ten years specializing in emergency medicine. She learned of AAI through Dr. Larry Stock and grabbed the opportunity to go to Pakistan in 2005 to offer assistance with the earthquake relief effort. She states that this experience has been life changing and will volunteer again as the need arises. .

Sarah Wohler is an American who is currently working at an emergency room in California as a scribe as well as continuing her studies toword her goal to become an emergency medicine physician. She has traveled extensively -- West Africa, Southest Asia, Jamaica and the Bahamas, Australia, Latin America,  all throughout Europe, and had spent two years studying abroad in Spain and Holland. Her volunteer service in Pakistan in 2005 broadened her goals to include a desire to continue with humanitarian relief efforts and International Public Health.

Dr Judy Wong is a fourth year Emergency Medicine resident at Alameda County Medical Center - Highland General Hospital in Oakland, California.  Prior to going to medical school, she was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic for two years.  While she has always enjoyed travelling, this was her first experience doing relief work.  She plans to continue doing more in the future. Judy went to Pakistan in 2005.

Tom Richards is an emergency medical doctor in the residency program at Highland General Hospital, the county trauma and medical referal center for Oakland, CA.  He graduated from Harvard Medical School and has worked in South Asia before in Bangladesh.  His interests include International Emergency Medicine and Ultrasound. Tom went to Pakistan in 2005.

Dr James Hardy was a volunteer physician in Pakistan 2005. Dr Hardy has also spent 3 years in Maritania as part of the Peace Corps.

Dr Wahaj Junaidi is a doctor from Karachi and was part of the Early Response Team to Pakistan in 2005.