Buddy Up Australia was created by ex-service personnel for current and ex-service personnel.

Jon Cuypers

Jon is an Army Veteran and Duntroon graduate, co-founder and former Managing Director of Start Right Homes, co-owner of Perth-based fitness company LA Fit Studio, and currently the Managing Director of Buddy Up Australia.

Jon is passionate about Buddy Up’s mission, focusing his efforts on maximising the impact for our members at the local level, while also working to grow our membership and Chapters around the country.

Reuben Omaji

Reuben served 14 years in the Australian Regular Army, Royal Australian Infantry (RAINF) working predominantly in Darwin and Townsville. Reuben is currently the Leadership and Development Manager for Barminco Mining Contracting Company.

Reuben’s civilian experience has seen him work in the not-for-profit sector and the mining industry. He considers it an extension of his life purpose to give back to the community and Buddy Up Australia provides an outstanding platform to assist improving people’s quality of life.

Having previously attempted Olympic selection for boxing he is a fitness enthusiast and is always exploring and developing ways to test himself and challenge his mind.  Reuben loves spending time going on adventures and travelling with his twin sons and takes pleasure in travelling internationally.

Garth Civil

One of the lucky few to have a job that is a passion, Garth has nearly 20 years of service as a career firefighter. During that time, he has seen how the job can create mental health stresses and understands the importance of assisting each other to stay healthy.

As a father of two awesome young men, Garth has had his own challenges affecting his mental health. He credits most of his resilience to his ability to always be actively doing things, particularly with friends.

When he’s not a firefighter, you’ll find Garth in a kayak or on the water participating with others in an event. The sense of belonging to a likeminded group gives him the impetus to continue on, even when the challenges seem insurmountable.

Julie Hackett

Julie served in the Australian Regular Army for 16 years in Signals Corps before transferring to the Royal Australian Air Force where she is still serving. She has deployed to Sinai, Iraq and Afghanistan in her 30 year career. Julie resides in Canberra and also contributes to the coordination of activities for the Canberra Chapter of Buddy Up Australia. In her spare time Julie loves to improve her culinary skills with specialist cooking classes, enjoys a fun run with friends and supports GWS in the AFL.

Julie joined Buddy Up Australia to help members of organisations she is proud to be a part of and that give to the community selflessly.

Mike Schuman

Mike served 8 years in the US Army Signal Corps with a brief stint attached to 1/1^st Special Forces Group, Okinawa, Japan. It was during this time he discovered Australia during a training exercise and fell in love with the place. He originally enlisted as a Satellite Communications Systems Repairer and quickly went on to design and engineer end-to-end global networks for global Joint Services deployments. Mike also served as the Chief Information Officer of WA Police from 2014-2016.

Mike is also a musician from the age of 5 and went to college as a classical guitar major. He has performed with bands from jazz to heavy metal and performed in musical and improvisational theatre. Although he doesn’t perform these days, he still has a deep love of music.

With many years in technology and cybersecurity, he brings a wealth of knowledge about data protection and privacy to the organisation.

Megan Davidson

Megan served 11 years in the Australian Regular Army, Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RAEME). Megan is a senior consultant and coach with Integral and a trek leader for Back Track Adventures, which have given her the capacity and support to launch Buddy Up Australia. She has seen the need for an organisation which helps current and ex-service personnel reconnect with their local communities, find a new purpose and avoid the mental impact of service. Experienced in both the Not for Profit and corporate sector, she also holds qualifications in business, training, leadership and project management. As the founder, Megan wants to see a member driven organisation where we look out for each other whilst undertaking fitness and purposeful volunteering activities and thus keeping everyone in the ‘well zone’ of physical and mental health.

Megan is an active person, spending her free time on activities like trekking, mountain biking and yoga.