BUDDY UP AUSTRALIA HQ
Buddy Up Australia is made up of people with lived experience in military and first response.
We understand you!
BUA Team
Abbey is a former Division 1 NCAA water polo athlete and WAIS scholarship recipient with a lifelong passion for connection, community, and wellbeing. A natural people person with a bubbly personality and genuine love for conversation, Abbey thrives in environments that bring people together and build positive, supportive communities.
Her dedication to wellness extends far beyond sport; she embraces every form of movement and lives by a philosophy that celebrates both physical and mental health. Whether it’s through exercise, meaningful connection, or community initiatives, Abbey is driven by a desire to uplift others and inspire a balanced, healthy, and connected way of living.
A dedicated volunteer with Buddy Up Australia since 2018, Mark is passionate about fostering community well-being and strong connections.
Having had an extensive career in the Australian Defence Force and then transitioning into community services, Mark promotes resilience and active lifestyles.
Committed to supporting veterans, first responders, and building a healthier community through teamwork and compassion.
Andrew has a 12 year career in the Australian Defence Force as a Rifleman and Medic. After transitioning out of the military, he completed a Business degree and moved into community focused work.
His passion for supporting the wellbeing of veterans and first responders led Andrew to lead the Buddy Up Victoria Team.
Andrew loves the outdoors, enjoys maintaining an active lifestyle, swimming, golf and snowboarding, and is a keen sports fan, especially enjoying ice hockey.
Andrew is motivated to take on challenges, stay engaged, active and moving forward. He lives in the Mornington Peninsula with his young family.
Kris Amiet
Team Leader TAS
Kris has been working and volunteering in the veteran & first responder space for many years, and Kris helped launch Buddy Up with Megan Davidson back in the early days.
Kris is a husband, father, adventure guide, fisherman and lover of anything active, especially in the outdoors.
Kris resides in Hobart with his family and leads Team Tasmania, providing support to our amazing community.
Matt Hale
Team Leader SA
Matt is our Team Leader for South Australia. Matt is an enthusiastic ideas man. He has community engagement running through his veins with an entrepreneurial heartbeat!
With two decades policing in both hemispheres Matt values the importance of BUA's pillars to support personal growth and family wellbeing.
Matt has a keen interest in having fun in the outdoors; from the hills to the ocean but especially it involves water and a bit of adventure!
Rebecca Gallagher
Team Leader NSW
Rebecca served in the NZ Army as a Medic for 9 years, her career including varied roles in healthcare provision and leadership positions.
After leaving the military and moving to Forster in 2020, she spent some time working alongside people with disability and developed her passion for mental health support. She is also an avid animal lover; previously working in animal rescue and now as a veterinary nurse in the local area.
Rebecca loves being in nature and is excited to be involved with Buddy Up Australia in order to help support and grow our community.
Bek Milne
Team Leader ACT & National Online Events
Bek has a military background and is a keen State Emergency Services volunteer. More of a road runner than trails, you can convince Bek to hike if there are some photo opportunities on offer.
Bek LOVES parkrun and would love to hang out with you at any of the ACT or surrounding events and grab a coffee and brekky afterwards, preferably with bacon on it. Park run offers something for everyone because if you don't run, you can walk or volunteer.
National Operations Manager
Tina Innes
Tina played a special role in Buddy Up Australia from the very beginning, being one of the three Founding Directors of the organisation. Tina stepped down as a Director in 2022 to travel Australia and upon her return reconnected with the organisation and the timing was right for Tina to reconnect on a deeper operational level as the new Program Manager.
Tina has a military background having served in the Australian Regular Army. Tina will be based in Western Australia.
HQ Administration Manager
Kiki Stokar von Neuforn
Kiki is ‘system’ and ‘organisation’ obsessed! She keeps the whole team in check. What would we do without her!
Not to forget, Kiki has been instrumental in organising national events, managing every aspect from planning to execution. Her expertise and efficiency have consistently resulted in successful and memorable events.
When Kiki closes her laptop she enjoys cooking, baking, house renovations, swimming and walking her little monster – Bluey.
Lisa Carson
Marketing & Communications Manager
Lisa manages all things marketing and communication, bringing a background in Events, Non-profit, Tech and Education. She drives growth for Buddy Up, developing and executing clear messaging and effective brand, campaign, and content strategies.
Lisa has been involved in community building, event management, and mentoring programs. She was drawn to Buddy Up to bring her marketing expertise to a for-purpose organisation that supports community.
A seeker of new experiences, Lisa enjoys adventure, trying new things and exploring the world.
Mike Birchall
Research & Policy Lead
Mike brings a wealth of experience in research, policy, and program evaluation to his role as Buddy Up Australia’s Research & Policy Lead. He served five years in the New Zealand Police, including various frontline roles in Auckland and the national child exploitation team.
Holding a master's degree in psychology, he has worked in various research, policy, and evaluation roles across New Zealand and the United Kingdom. At Buddy Up Australia, Mike ensures that research and policy initiatives align with best practices, supporting the mental and physical well-being of veterans and first responders.
Mark Amiet
Team Leader QLD
Team Leader WA
Abbey Grosse
Team Leader VIC
Andrew Gould
BUA BOARD
Jeff McLean
Chairperson
Jeff is a seasoned professional with a background in business and military training. He resides in Brisbane with his family and enjoys outdoor activities.
With over 20 years at UPS, he held leadership roles globally, specializing in human capital transformation. Jeff was instrumental in expanding UPS's operations in Vietnam and South Asia.
He managed HR operations, training, and development across UPS Asia Pacific. Additionally, he lectured on Strategic Management at the University of Technology, Sydney.
Jeff served in the Australian Army for over fifteen years. He also chaired the Vietnam Chapter of the Conference of Asia Pacific Express Carriers.
Craig Heslop
Chief Executive Officer & Board Member
Craig’s passion is to ensure that those who have served their country or community are given the respect and support they deserve.
Prior to joining the Buddy Up Team, Craig served as a sergeant in the New Zealand Police. Here, he enjoyed several roles including frontline, organised crime and tactical policing.
Craig also has extensive experience in the fitness sector, establishing a successful health and fitness company in the Middle East. He is proud to have improved the lives of many hundreds of people.
The Buddy Up values of wellness, mateship, service and courage attracted Craig to the organisation. He holds an Executive MBA from Massey University.
In his spare time, Craig enjoys adventures in the outdoors, coaching football and supporting his beloved Liverpool!
DR SAMARA MCPHEDRAN
Board Member
Samara has two decades of experience across a range of leadership and management roles, including in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.
She holds qualifications in law and psychology, and her research has been published widely in both academic and mainstream media outlets. She specialises in the study of mental health, suicide, homicide, and domestic and family violence. She has worked extensively in legislative and policy evaluation and is currently an Honorary Associate Professor with the TC Beirne School of Law, University of Queensland.
Samara has a track record of providing evidence-based recommendations to decision-makers to guide policy and legislative change and has served on a number of high-level advisory groups, including state and federal Ministerial panels.
She enjoys cycling, gardening, and spending time with her cats.
Philip Armstrong
Board Member
Philip Armstrong brings a wealth of experience to his new role as a board member of Buddy Up, having dedicated his career to supporting veterans and promoting community well-being.
A former member of the Australian Defence Force, Philip has worked extensively in mental health, supervision, and veteran advocacy. He has been instrumental in fundraising efforts, including treks to Mount Kilimanjaro and Everest Base Camp.
As the leader of Optimise Potential, his expertise in mental health and leadership will greatly contribute to Buddy Up's mission of fostering community connection and enhancing the well-being of its members.