REGIONAL HEAD QUARTERS
Jethro Gilbert
Board Chair | Director Operations
Jethro is the founder of Pacific Guardians, a deployable humanitarian capability focused on rapid operations in remote and hard-to-reach areas across the Pacific.
He combines a background in corporate account management with operational experience as an officer in the New Zealand Army. His early leadership roles included managing teams within New Zealand’s Limited Service Volunteer programme, which led to the establishment of Triple Summits Limited—delivering employment and youth development services in partnership with government.
At Pacific Guardians, Jethro leads both strategy and field operations, with a focus on rapid disaster response, remote assessments, and strengthening local coordination systems. He has also designed and delivered more than 15 leadership programmes across the Pacific Islands through Future Leaders Academy, and regularly works with corporate and government teams to develop operational leadership capability.
His recent operational experience includes serving as a liaison officer during the response to Cyclone Gabrielle in Gisborne, and leading damage assessment operations in Vanuatu following Cyclone Lola as part of Task Force Kiwi.
Jethro’s work is grounded in practical field experience, strong regional relationships, and a focus on delivering clear, decision-ready information in the early stages of a response.
Liam Allan
Board Secretary | Chief Strategy Officer
Liam brings more than 25 years of military, civil and humanitarian aviation experience to his role as Director and Chief Strategy Officer at Pacific Guardians. He began his career as an Australian Defence Force helicopter pilot, supporting major domestic disaster responses and deploying internationally in complex operational environments. His subsequent work in Electronic Warfare and aviation safety strengthened his expertise in high-risk, high consequence operations.
Transitioning into the civil sector, Liam spent over a decade operating as a multi-engine offshore helicopter captain, Line Training Captain, and Flight Safety Officer. He has led flight crew standards, safety oversight and operational compliance across Australia and the Indo-Pacific, particularly in demanding offshore environments.
Liam is also a nationally recognised aviation expert witness, providing independent technical advice across civil and regulatory proceedings, including accident analysis, human factors, and operational decision-making. He is a Chief Remote Pilot and operates under a CASA-approved Remote Operator Certificate.
At Pacific Guardians, Liam leads strategic planning, capability development and governance. His strengths in systems design, risk management and operational strategy ensure the organisation remains scalable, mission-ready, and able to deploy effectively into remote and disaster-affected regions.
Sean Lowe
Board Treasurer
Sean brings a background in the aviation industry as a long haul and remote area pilot. He has also deployed on disaster recovery operations to remote islands in Vanuatu, giving him a unique appreciation of the Pacific Guardians purpose.
As a business director in his full time role, Sean has a sound understanding of compliance obligations, and adds value to the PG Board for strategic direction.
FIELD TEAM MEMBERS
Our field teams are made up primarily of experienced military veterans with backgrounds in disaster response and operations. Based out of Brisbane (Field Team Gold) and Auckland (Field Team Black), they are trained to deploy quickly into remote and challenging environments across the Pacific.
Operating in small, disciplined teams, they bring a practical, no-nonsense approach to early-stage response—focused on gaining access, establishing situational awareness, and delivering clear, decision-ready information where it’s needed most.
Jethro Gilbert
Serving Army Officer (ARes)
Team Leader
Liam Allan
Former Army Officer
UAV Specialist
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David Clift
Former Army Officer (SAS)
Team Member
Brett Perry
Team Member
James Erwin
Training Coord / Intel
Prof Christian Hamilton-Craig
Senior Medical Advisor
Brenden Winder
Team Member
IN-COUNTRY LIAISONS
Our in-country liaisons are trusted local partners embedded within the communities we serve. They bring deep contextual knowledge, established relationships, and real-time insight that enables Pacific Guardians to operate effectively from day one.
Working alongside community leaders, NGOs, and coordination centres, they provide critical local access, ground truth, and continuity—ensuring our operations are informed, respectful, and aligned with local priorities. Their role is essential to bridging the gap between remote communities and national response systems.
Selicia Ronolea
Port Vila, Vanuatu
Litia Afia
Honiara, Solomon Is
