Who We Are

The Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Institute is an independent, Not-For-Profit, Non-Government Organisation that provides advice and support for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief activities across the globe.

About the HADR Institute

Natural and manmade disasters are increasing in frequency and intensity, resulting in immense loss of life and human suffering. The ability to adequately prepare for and respond to these disasters has never been more pressing.

The HADR institute collects and analyses complex data and information, and translates it into timely and accessible intelligence insight to support humanitarian assistance, disaster preparedness and response around the world. 

We work with non-government organisations, international institutions, government organisations, corporations, and businesses to enable their humanitarian aid and disaster relief activities.

Our Values

  • We focus on human rights and humanitarian principles at the core of our ethos, values, mission and vision. For this reason, Human Security is the paradigm that we use to focus our organisational efforts.

  • We respect and observe the laws of the countries that we work with to advance our objectives.

  • We observe neutrality and impartiality to ensure we can best serve the interests of our fellow human beings.

  • We seek to maintain our independence to ensure the pursuit of our mission with integrity.

  • We are transparent about our data collection and analytical methodology. We believe that being open and encouraging dialogue will enhance the quality of our services and product, while also contributing towards public trust

  • These values foster equitable relief efforts and innovative solutions by incorporating a wide range of perspectives and experiences.

  • We respect the privacy of our fellow human beings as central to our cause. We ensure that any data collection respects and protects the privacy of individuals to the best of our abilities.

  • We believe in harnessing the power of innovation, science and technology to deliver effective solutions to our collective challenges.

  • We strive to enhance the safety of responders and people impacted by humanitarian crisis.

Our Team

  • Founder and CEO

    Mr Mitch King; an innovative leader in the non-profit, national security and business sector.

    Mitch served for over a decade in the Australian Defence Force, gaining operational experience as the commander of a multinational team in Iraq and in principal staff officer roles on HADR and Border Protection.

    He is the founder and owner of a Technology Research and Development business and has a history of charitable activities in public health.

    His academic background is in international relations and international law. He is currently completing a thesis on AI Decision Support Systems and International Humanitarian Law.

    LinkedIn

  • Director and Treasurer

    Mr Andrew Wright; an experienced business leader.

    Andrew is an international finance senior executive with extensive experience across capital raisings and finance structuring, development finance and fund management.

    Andrew has over 23 years of experience across the globe, including in Africa, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region.

    Andrew is a Fellow of the Certified Practicing Accountants of Australia and Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia.

  • Human Resources Manager

    Ms. Jane Mukome, a seasoned HR leader with a decade of expertise across private and public sectors, dedicated to nurturing people, culture, and strategic initiatives. She excels in collaboratively resolving HR issues at all organizational levels.

    As a senior HR professional, Jane champions equity, diversity, and inclusion, evident in her 2023 CSIRO award for outstanding contributions to gender diversity through the Data61 growth hiring campaign. Her skills include strategic workforce planning, talent development, and fostering a positive organizational culture.

    Originally from Zimbabwe, Jane migrated to Australia for studies at Monash University, earning academic qualifications in International Relations, Human Resources, and secondary school teaching. Her diverse skill set and unwavering commitment to HR excellence position her as a valuable asset in senior HR leadership roles.

  • Chief Production Officer

    Ms Elyse Glynn; an experienced leader in analysis functions and logistics, she is also an advocate for progressing female recruitment in Defence.

    Elyse has valuable operational experience leading analytical teams for HADR operations and open-source conflict reporting.

    Elyse has an education background in communications and a masters in international relations

    LinkedIn

  • Instructor and Disaster Risk Analyst

    Mr Robin Palmer; experienced GEOINT and OSINT analyst. Across his career in the Australian Defence Force he has built expertise in supporting complex HADR operations.

    Prior to entering the military, Robin volunteered for his local State Emergency Services unit.

    Robin has an educational background in engineering and participatory disaster risk management.

  • Director and Secretary

    Mr Robert Campbell; a manager and leader in Defence, consulting and the non-profit sector.

    Rob served for over fifteen years in the Australian Defence Force with operational experience in HADR and SASO in both combat arms and staff support roles. Rob has particular expertise in Geospatial Information Services (GiS) management.

    Rob has a history of volunteering in youth and social services and he is currently working in GiS consulting for government.

    Rob has a Master’s of Cyber Security, Strategy and Diplomacy.

    LinkedIn

  • Head of Public Communications

    Eva is a General Sir John Monash Scholar and a Rotary Peace Fellow, with an academic background in International Relations, Security, and Middle East Studies.

    In her professional life, Eva is a communications specialist with a focus on international NGOs and social enterprise. She has a strong interest in public campaigns for social change and the use of speech in influencing public opinion.

  • Disaster Risk Reduction Capacity Strengthening Program Manager

    Ms Hannah Stoios; a dedicated and experienced humanitarian and disaster management professional with a passion for international development.

    Hannah has expertise in international project management with a particular focus on advocating for vulnerable groups, promoting innovative solutions, and supporting capacity strengthening initiatives.

    Hannah has a master's in disaster management and international development, and a background in linguistics and education.

Policies and Compliance

As a registered charity working in the humanitarian, international development and disaster response sector, the HADR Institute takes policy and compliance requirements seriously, to ensure our work is serving people the way we intend.