After 25 years supporting disaster and humanitarian responses worldwide, Matthew Everitt is using his experience to help strengthen Australia’s preparedness for future emergencies.

As a Technical Logistics Advisor at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Matthew is helping develop the National Emergency Management Stockpile (NEMS), which provides critical goods and services when state and territory resources are stretched.

NEMS strengthens Australia’s emergency response by combining a physical stockpile with supplier arrangements and strategic partnerships. It can quickly provide essential resources, including emergency shelter, power, clean water and flood mitigation equipment, to communities affected by major disasters.

An accidental beginning

Matthew’s humanitarian career began unexpectedly in 1999, when he travelled to Timor-Leste during the turmoil following the country’s independence referendum.

He went on to work with non-government organisations Médecins Sans Frontières, the Norwegian Refugee Council and the United Nations across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and the Middle East. He later led the Humanitarian Logistics Capability Contract, supporting the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to strengthen disaster relief across the Pacific.  

Learning from experience

Matthew said many of his most valuable lessons came from reflecting on mistakes and recognising what others did well. “Probably the best thing I bring to NEMA is the lessons from the many things I got wrong and, on my best days, remembering something someone else got right.”

His work is also guided by the principle that communities understand their needs and should be supported to lead their recovery.

“Local communities will always have a far greater understanding of the needs and a far greater ability to create a positive result,” he said.

This approach shapes his work with government, industry and emergency management partners to identify where national resources can make the greatest difference.

Building for what comes next

After years responding to disasters, Matthew is now helping build a national capability for severe and complex emergencies.

NEMS is designed to be more than a fixed collection of supplies. It provides a scalable framework that can grow to meet the needs of severe and complex emergencies.

Matthew’s focus is ensuring the capability can make a meaningful difference when Australia faces events that exceed existing resources and arrangements.

As the nature and scale of emergencies continue to evolve, building an agile and responsive national capability is increasingly important.

At its simplest, Matthew said emergency management is about helping people through the toughest moments of their lives. 

A shared commitment to service

NEMA brings together people from emergency services, community organisations, the Australian Defence Force, government and other sectors, united by a shared commitment to helping communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.

Matthew’s journey from international humanitarian response to strengthening Australia’s national emergency capability reflects the purpose at the heart of NEMA’s work: learning from experience, preparing for what lies ahead and helping communities when they need it most. Through NEMS, those lessons are being turned into practical capability, supporting a safer, stronger and more prepared Australia.

For further information about NEMS, visit the NEMS page on NEMA’s website.