What Respond Global does

Respond Global is a Noosaville, Queensland-headquartered social enterprise founded in 2020 by Dr. Ian Norton, a former WHO Emergency Medical Team lead, alongside humanitarian and medical specialists including Chris Maher AO. The organisation operates three integrated lines of work: deployable health crisis and disaster response, humanitarian programme delivery (including renewable energy and WASH), and specialist medical, healthcare, and supply-chain recruitment. Its flagship asset is HELPR-1, a purpose-built maritime health response vessel permanently stationed in Vanuatu that delivers mobile clinics, telehealth, training, and emergency surge capacity across the Pacific.

The business model blends multi-year government grants (notably AUD 2.5M from the Australian Government for HELPR-1 through June 2026 and AUD 1.5M for the REnew Pacific programme), corporate and sector contracts (meat processing via AMPC, aged care via Whiddon, food processing via H.W. Greenham, cruise lines including Ponant, P&O, Coral Expeditions and CLIA, and professional services firms such as Grant Thornton), and bilateral partnerships with Pacific governments (Vanuatu, Fiji, Philippines, Nepal). Recurring revenue derives from long-term service agreements and episodic surge deployments for events ranging from earthquakes (Nepal) to outbreaks.

Respond Global fields 140+ clinical, logistics, and humanitarian response professionals with credentials from WHO, AUSMAT, and international NGO systems, providing a deployable talent base that supports simultaneous Pacific, Australian, and Southeast Asian engagements. Operations are intentionally distributed across high-risk and underserved geographies where the firm's WHO-authored classification standards and maritime platform create entry barriers for generalist competitors.

Name

Respond Global

Legal name

Respond Global

Website

https://respondglobal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Respond Global is an Australian social enterprise that delivers deployable health crisis and disaster response, humanitarian programme delivery, and specialist medical recruitment across the Pacific and Southeast Asia, anchored by its HELPR-1 maritime health vessel in Vanuatu.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Crisis & Disaster Management Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Business Support Services (5614)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Evacuation, Shelter, Mass Care & Family Reunification (HLAJAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE), Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) & Preparedness (BPADADAK), Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK), Environmental Disaster Response & Debris Management (Floods, Hurricanes, Wildfires) (EUAIAMAF)

Keywords

• Health crisis management
• Disaster response services
• Emergency medical operations
• Disease outbreak management
• Incident management training

Headquarters

HQ city

Noosaville

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Professional Services and Consulting: Respond Global provides specialized consulting services for health crisis management, disaster preparedness, disease outbreak management, risk management frameworks, and emergency response planning. Services include site risk assessments, document and protocol reviews, policy development, after action reviews, and advocacy services.
2. Training and Simulation Programs: Broad range of courses, exercises, and simulations in disaster management and health crisis response, including bespoke training solutions for organisations or countries. Online on-demand courses available through TalentLMS platform.
3. Medical Response Products: Sale of specialized medical response products including the Mass Casualty Burns Box (grab and go box to treat up to 10 patients in mass casualty incidents involving burns), priced from $1,985 ex GST.
4. Immunisation Management Services: Training, planning and implementation assistance for immunisation programs including mobile workforce vaccination teams, cold chain logistics, and vaccination clinic establishment and operation.
5. Government and NGO Contracts: Long-term contracts with governments (e.g., Australia government AUD 2.5 million funding for HELPR-1 operations until June 2026) and international organisations for health service delivery and emergency response.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Respond Global provides practical, internationally proven health crisis and disaster management preparedness and response solutions for governments, public health agencies, and enterprises. Services span disease outbreak management, planning and establishment of Health Emergency Operations Centres, risk management frameworks, immunisation program delivery, deployment of response personnel, and bespoke training, exercises and simulations. The HELPR-1 health and logistics response vessel flagged in Vanuatu uniquely extends service delivery to remote Pacific island communities.

Product overview

Respond Global offers a suite of health crisis and disaster management solutions organised around three core areas: Health Crisis & Disaster Management (including Disease Outbreak Management, Planning & Health EOCs, Risk Management Frameworks, and Immunisation Management), Emergency Response Operations (covering Deployment of Response Personnel, Cache & Logistics, and Operations Support), and Training & Simulations (featuring Courses, Exercises & Simulations and On-Demand Courses delivered via TalentLMS). The company also operates HELPR-1, a maritime health and logistics response vessel based in Vanuatu, and provides the IM-READDI Incident Management platform for All-Hazards Readiness. Physical products include the Mass Casualty Burns Box for burn injury incidents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HELPR-1: A health and logistics response vessel flagged and based in Vanuatu, designed for emergency response and daily support of outreach programs in health, climate change, and disaster preparedness.

Products and services

• HELPR-1 Health and Logistics Response Vessel A health and logistics response vessel flagged and based in Vanuatu, designed for emergency response and daily outreach programs in health, climate change, and disaster preparedness across remote Pacific communities; carries 44 crew and deployment members comfortably with capacity for up to 52 during emergency deployments.
• IM-READDI Incident Management Platform Knowledge, training, tools, and testing program that builds a state of All-Hazards Readiness in organisations, enabling confident response to specific local hazards through structured incident management methodology.
• Disease Outbreak Management Consulting Advisory and operational support for outbreak response planning, quarantine management, and immunisation implementation, helping organisations and governments stay safe and operational during infectious disease outbreaks.
• Planning & Health Emergency Operations Centres (H-EOCs) Tailored health crisis management solutions that empower local emergency medical, rapid response, and public health teams to plan, prepare and respond, including design and establishment of Health Emergency Operations Centres.
• Risk Management Frameworks Development and implementation of crisis risk mitigation and business continuity frameworks to guide operations during disasters or health crises, supporting business continuity and protecting workforce and reputation.
• Deployment of Response Personnel 24/7 critical incident support delivered virtually and in the field through a deployment-ready workforce and senior emergency managers, including telehealth services for clients facing health emergencies.
• Cache & Logistics Services Support and guidance for procurement and supply chain management of disaster and health crisis response caches, kits, and field hospitals.
• Operations Support Services Assistance with designing and establishing H-EOCs and quarantine facilities, implementing health screening and immunisation programs, and providing Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and WASH solutions.
• Courses, Exercises & Simulations Broad range of courses, exercises, and simulations across disaster management and health crisis response, including bespoke training solutions tailored for organisations or countries.
• On-Demand Training Courses Online self-paced courses covering topics from IPC and PPE basics to designing exercise simulations, delivered via the TalentLMS platform.
• Mass Casualty Burns Box Made-to-order grab-and-go box designed to treat up to 10 patients in mass casualty incidents involving burns, with colour-coded treatment packs marked by Total Burn Surface Area percentage; priced from AUD 1,985 ex GST.
• Immunisation Management Services Training, planning, implementation, and technical/logistical support for immunisation programs, including mobile workforce vaccination teams, cold chain logistics, and vaccination clinic establishment; Respond Global is an approved workforce immunisation management provider in Queensland, Victoria, and NSW.

Quantifiable outcome

• 180,000+ people provided with direct healthcare services across Vanuatu
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Government of VanuatuflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2022HELPR-1 is registered and permanently based in Vanuatu. Partnership with Ministry of Health for health service delivery, including vaccination rollout and primary healthcare to remote communities. The ship will remain flagged in Vanuatu for years to come.
• EarthTechcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2020Global social enterprise partnership formed in June 2020 to disrupt the emergency response industry by empowering countries and organisations to respond efficiently and safely to local health emergencies.
• Elemental Group LimitedcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical partners for solar installations. Supported installation of 15kW off-grid solar system at Quatvaes Hospital in Torba, including X-ray machine procurement.
• REnew PacificcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for renewable energy projects. HELPR-1 facilitates repairs and installation of equipment and renewable energy systems in 40 health facilities in Vanuatu under the REnew Pacific program.
• Department of Water (Vanuatu)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking in close partnership with the Department of Water and Environmental Health Division of Health Promotions Vanuatu for WASH capability launch. Joint assessments of community infrastructure needs.
• Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration since August 2020 to deliver business resilience and continuity framework for AMPC's red meat processor members. Developed nationally approved infectious disease management plan adaptable to specific operating environments.
• Grant ThorntonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple collaborations including Federal Budget Day COVID-19 Impact Analysis webinar, workplace reopening advisory, and Vaccinations & Workforce Management discussions.
• Habitat for Humanity InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Grant Thornton's Global Village Program in Cambodia. Respond Global provided pre-trip health risk assessments, first aid kits, and on-site medical support.
• Colin Biggers & PaisleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal firm partnership for 'In Conference With' 4-part series on COVID-19. Collaboration on aged care sector guidance during pandemic.
• Coral ExpeditionscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCreated, tested, and implemented 'Sail Safe' plan for return to cruising. Plan approved by all Australian state and territory governments. Included training and simulations for crew and management.
• Ponant CruisescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAssisted with return to COVID-Safe cruising in Australian waters. Developed scenario-based COVID-19 plans and protocols, on- and off-shore quarantine plans, and testing app for guest test result uploads.
• Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), AustralasiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOVID-Safe planning support for return to sailing for all members. Reviewing technical and health-related protocols, recommendations for implementation, crew training, risk communications advice, and government liaison.
• Volley 4 Change (V4C)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSport for development program partnership. HELPR-1 assisted Vanuatu Volleyball Federation team to explore potential for program delivery in northern provinces, leveraging logistics and health support capabilities.
• Global Support and DevelopmentcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership for cyclone preparedness and response training aboard HELPR-1 in Vanuatu. Five-day training program on safe chainsaw use and disaster leadership and coordination.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Medical Corps: Global humanitarian organization delivering emergency medical and trauma response, training, and rehabilitation services. Directly comparable in combining emergency medical response, training/simulation, and rehabilitation services to governments and INGOs.
• Aspen Medical: Australia-based provider of healthcare services including remote medical support, emergency response, and workforce health solutions. Direct peer in delivering outsourced health services to remote sites, government, and enterprise clients across the Asia-Pacific region.

Others

• REnew Pacific: Funder/partner program delivering renewable energy to health facilities in Pacific island nations. Comparable as an Australasian-Pacific development initiative, and a direct partner of Respond Global on the 40-facility Vanuatu rollout.
• World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Medical Teams: Not a competitor but a closely related ecosystem player. Respond Global's founder Dr. Ian Norton led this initiative from 2014-20, making the WHO EMT network both a feeder pipeline for talent and a credentialing body for the company.

Regional players

• Humana People to People: International development organization implementing community health, disease prevention, and vaccination programs. Comparable in delivering community-level health outreach and immunization programs to underserved populations.

Broad incumbents

• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Australia: Global medical humanitarian organization that provides emergency medical care in conflict zones, epidemics, and natural disasters. Comparable in deploying clinical teams for outbreak response and vaccination, though operating at significantly larger scale.
• International SOS: Global leader in medical and travel security services, providing workforce health, emergency response, and crisis management to enterprises and governments. Comparable to Respond Global in providing health emergency preparedness and on-the-ground response, but at much larger scale and global footprint.
• Australian Red Cross (Australian Red Cross Lifeblood / International Programs): Major humanitarian organization with Australian government funding and disaster response capabilities. Comparable in delivering health emergency response, vaccination support, and disaster preparedness training in the Pacific region.

Emerging players

• Global Support and Development: Active partner of Respond Global on cyclone preparedness and response training aboard HELPR-1. Comparable in providing disaster preparedness training and emergency response operations in developing contexts.
• Earth Tech (now Earth HQ / Earth Bream): Respond Global's June 2020 partner for building and scaling high-impact social ventures in disaster response. Comparable as a social enterprise focused on emergency response industry disruption, though broader in scope beyond health.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/results?search_query=Respond+Global
• Facebookfacebook.com/respondglobal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/respondglobal
• Xx.com/global_respond

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Respond Global