Laura Padgham

As a Response Lead, Laura supports the Australian Government's disaster response activities through the HLC program. Her role involves leading field operations, logistics planning and execution, managing communications, and ensuring effective stakeholder support.

• Supported Australian Government's disaster response activities through the HLC program.
• Coordinated international warehouse visit and stock-take in PNG.
• Managed project to export humanitarian stores to Fiji via Navy and commercial means.
• Led field operations, logistics planning, and execution.
• Managed communications and stakeholder support, including DFAT and ADF representatives.
• Obtained freight and transport rates, placed bookings, and handled export/import documentation.
• Developed and managed project budgets, monitoring timelines and delivery expectations.
• Played a crucial role in the Vanuatu earthquake response.
• Managed a $1.1 million project budget for HLC stores in the POM warehouse.
• Coordinated the dispatch of over 5,500 items via commercial and ADF air and road shipments.
• Oversaw a contract with a maximum value of $577,716.06.

Laura led a comprehensive transformation that optimised project delivery and created a conducive environment for team growth, career progression, and operational excellence to enhance project delivery, and operational efficiency.

• Successfully aligned operational goals with broader business objectives, driving strategic initiatives that resulted in measurable business growth and improved project delivery and ensure optimal patient outcomes
• Maintained additional leadership positions in community groups including the Veterans’ Association as the Wellbeing Member
• Engaged with community, federal government, and charity orgs to educate and promote relative issues and initiatives
• Implemented a recruiting strategy to appeal to Veterans and offer support in transitioning from ADF to civilian employment
• Project and Risk Management: Implemented a comprehensive quality reporting system, resulting in improved project outcomes, reduced risks, and adherence to high-quality standards throughout the project lifecycle
• Reduced operational costs through measures such as resource management, streamlined processes, and improved project planning, thereby enhancing overall project profitability
• Established and optimized communication channels, fostering a culture of open communication through frequent team meetings, engagement sessions, and one-on-one interactions, thus improving team morale and project efficiency
• Successfully resolved conflicts and managed sensitive issues with high levels of empathy and integrity
• Demonstrated strong communication and interpersonal skills in engaging with veterans, their families, and stakeholders

Laura planned and delivered recruiting initiatives and events for DFR in South-East Queensland

• Applied project management principles when planning public engagement activities; this led to cost savings and an improvement in KPIs
• Demonstrated expertise in promoting community education and engagement initiatives
• Effectively prioritized tasks and allocated work based on team strengths and capacities, aligning with the need for resource prioritization highlighted in the job description
• Demonstrated proficiency in managing the scope, budget, and schedule of activities, ensuring alignment with program plans, goals, and priorities as outlined in the job responsibilities
• Delivered comprehensive weekly briefs, updates, and reports to senior leadership, highlighting performance measures and fostering transparent communication channels

Through this role, Laura planned strategic logistics for ADF Units across Darwin and Adelaide

• Applied a range of skills including leadership, risk management, resource management, training and executing against a plan
• As Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief Manager, led critical humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations, managing logistics and coordination efforts in high-pressure environments
• Demonstrated expertise in organizing large-scale response efforts, liaising with government agencies and military units to ensure the efficient delivery of aid and support to affected communities
• Excelled in crisis management, resource allocation, and cross-functional team leadership to achieve mission objectives
• Oversaw logistics operations for a workforce of over 500 individuals spanning transport, supply, and maintenance teams
• Applied a variety of policies encompassing WHS, asset management, recordkeeping, logistics, and sustainment to operational activities
• Implemented risk management processes to mitigate and address potential risks within logistics operations
• Delivered fortnightly briefs to executive officers, providing updates on operational status to facilitate Brigade-level planning and execution

In this role Laura supported the integration, SOP development and training for new transport mission systems

• Orchestrated planning for Battalion-sized transport activities, incorporating risk response plans to ensure operational compliance and safety
• Supervised a team of 30-50 transport professionals and maintained accountability for up to $3M worth of equipment, emphasizing leadership and resource management
• Enforced compliance with policies and regulations, overseeing logistics practices and WHS programs to mitigate risks and ensure workplace safety

As a Team Leader in Joint Movements Group Laura was responsible for:

• Coordinated multi-modal logistics support across various modes of transport both domestically and internationally
• Led a tri-service team consisting of ADF officers, soldiers, sailors, and airmen as well as APS staff

Laura deployed on OPERATION ACCORDION in 2016 as the commander of a tri-service team of tactical, operational and strategic logistic specialists

• Orchestrated multimodal transport across the Middle East, fostering key alliances for seamless supply chain operations
• Built relationships with allied logisticians and local providers, enhancing sustainment efforts for military operations

• Roles, responsibilities and achievements on request