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

Tina-Marie Innes

Tina served 6 years in the Australian Regular Army, in both the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RAEME), and the Royal Australia Army Pay Corps (RAAPC). Tina enlisted as an Avionics Technician where she discovered a fear of flying, so, especially after a near-drowning experience during a white-water rafting training exercise in Far North Queensland, she decided to avoid adventure wherever possible during the rest of her military career. Her new adventure is using her experience of over 20 years in risk management and strategic planning to help Buddy Up Australia grow and through this, help and support those who have provided service to us.

Tina is a passionate Fremantle Dockers supporter, so if you are a Perth local, you can find her cheering them on from the sidelines.

Debbie Gibbins

Debbie served 15 years in the Australian Regular Army and then 2 years in the humanitarian sector.   A highlight of which were the enduring friendships and a 12 month humanitarian deployment to Sudan during the Darfur Crisis. Her ‘not so much highlight’ was eating unimaginable things during desert survival training.   Her time now is spent as a professional trainer, project manager and policy officer in health disaster planning and response.

Debbie joined the Buddy Up Australia team to help build a support network for those that have served, and continue to give so much of themselves for the benefit of all.

When she isn’t juggling work and raising a family, she likes to squeeze in ‘outdoors’ time, a good book and spending time with friends.

Greg Penney

Greg has worked in emergency services for over 16 years, as an Ambulance Paramedic for 4 years, and a Firefighter for 12 years. Starting with delivering babies on the side of the road at 19 years of age, he has seen it all.

Being involved with Buddy Up Australia gives Greg a chance to make a difference and support those who have given so much to Australia, both through military service and employment as a Police Officer, Paramedic or Firefighter. He has seen first-hand the toll it can take, and believes that no one should go it alone.

When he isn’t working or helping build Buddy Up Australia into the impacting and amazing organisation he believes it can be, Greg will be sweating it out at his local F45, completing his PhD or hanging out with mates.

Jon Cuypers

Jon served as an engineer in the Australian Regular Army for 11 years. He received specialist training in the field of Military Engineering Management and  served in a variety of leadership roles both in Australia and the Middle East, specialising primarily in construction and project management. Upon leaving the ADF in 2011, Jon was awarded a Commendation by the Chief of Army for making a significant contribution to the integration of lessons learned by Australian and allied military forces into future Defence capability and force modernisation projects. Jon now co-owns a residential construction business called Start Right Homes, and a fitness business called LA Fit Studio.

Jon joined Buddy Up Australia to assist with the growth of the organisation and to improve benefits and opportunities for members. He also enjoys synchronised swimming and particularly the colourful outfits and sparkly bits.

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 Development 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. Her super power is the ability to walk for long distances and will answer “just around the next corner” to your question of “how far?”