Who We Are
We are a bespoke risk and organisational resilience consultancy, established by Managing Director, John Gawne, in 2018.
Trusted by organisations operating in high-risk, high-consequence environments, Resilient Services helps build real-world crisis, emergency, and business continuity capability.
We work with government agencies, critical infrastructure providers, and ASX-listed organisations where the ability to respond effectively is essential — not optional.
What We Do
Most consulting firms deliver plans.
We focus on capability.
We design, implement, and continuously improve the systems, processes, and behaviours required for organisations to respond effectively when disruption occurs.
That means embedding practical frameworks, preparing teams to act under pressure, and validating performance through real-world scenarios — so when disruption happens, your organisation responds with confidence.
Company History
John Gawne, Resilient Services’ Managing Director, formed Resilient Services in February 2018. Before its inception, John worked in the utility, energy, and construction industries for 28 years. Since 2010, he has worked extensively in the Emergency Management sector and has developed a reputation as a respected and trustworthy industry professional. Similarly, over that journey, John worked in senior management positions in the private sector and spent time in government roles.
John became aware of a fundamental need for independent and versatile experts who understand businesses’ entire risk and resilience needs while providing personalised and tailored solutions. Likewise, he recognised a need for professionals with the knowledge and emergency management experience from a corporate and operational perspective. All these factors inspired John to start Resilient Services, and he hasn’t looked back since.
To date, Resilient Services have provided risk, resilience, and emergency management solutions to ASX Top 100 companies, government regulators and agencies within the construction, energy, oil and gas industries. Of late, the company has expanded into the agribusiness and manufacturing industries and added government grants, accredited RTO training, and risk management plans, including strategic risk, to its suite of professional services.
Meet the team
Resilient Services prides itself on having a diverse range of experts who bring with them a wide range of experiences.
John Gawne
Managing Director & Founder
John Gawne is the Managing Director and founder of Resilient Services, established in 2018 following a successful career in senior management roles across critical infrastructure and essential service organisations. His leadership was instrumental in delivering an After Action Review for the Victorian Premier into prolonged electricity outages, a project that catalysed the expansion of Resilient Services into a nationally respected consultancy. Under John’s direction, the company has grown to support federal and state government agencies, as well as organisations in the energy, water, ports, health, and broader critical infrastructure sectors. His focus remains on providing pragmatic, high-quality risk and resilience services that genuinely strengthen client capability.
John’s vision for Resilient Services has always been to build a values-driven, BS-free organisation that empowers its people and delivers real impact for its clients. He is deeply passionate about workplace culture, leadership, and raising the bar in emergency management and resilience planning. John holds a Master’s degree in Business and a Postgraduate Certificate in Emergency and Disaster Management. Outside of work, he enjoys barbequing, following AFL, spending time with his family, playing golf, travelling, and keeping active at the gym.
Breanna Chapman
Director of Operations
Brea is a seasoned resilience professional with specialist expertise in emergency management, business continuity, and crisis response. She plays a pivotal role at Resilient Services as the Director of Operations, overseeing the end-to-end delivery of projects, staff coordination, and the implementation of organisational strategy. With a strong foundation in both theoretical and applied resilience, Brea holds a Postgraduate Qualification in Organisational Resilience from the University of Tasmania, has studied National Resilience at Macquarie University, and completed the Crisis Management for Critical Thinkers program at the University of Sydney. She is also formally trained in the Australasian Inter-Service Incident Management System (AIIMS), ensuring her practices are aligned with national emergency coordination standards.
Brea is passionate about embedding resilience across organisations and communities, with a proven track record in developing and delivering emergency and crisis management frameworks, training programs, business continuity plans, and strategic risk reviews. She is particularly committed to championing women in the traditionally male-dominated fields of emergency management and critical infrastructure, actively mentoring and empowering the next generation of female leaders. Her ability to lead with empathy, drive operational excellence, and influence cultural change makes her a vital part of the Resilient Services leadership team and a respected figure in the sector.
Samantha Harris
Acting Head of Commercial
Samantha Harris the Acting Head of Commercial at Resilient Services, where she contributes to the development and delivery of emergency management frameworks, exercises, and strategic response planning. For Powerlink she will assume the role of Emergency Management & BC Specialist. With a strong focus on supporting organisations to enhance their resilience, Samantha ensures alignment with regulatory standards and best practice in crisis preparedness and response.
She holds a Bachelor of Business with majors in Marketing and Human Resource Management from La Trobe University. Her academic grounding in organisational behaviour and strategic planning enhances her capability to manage complex stakeholder environments and deliver structured, effective crisis management solutions.
Outside of her professional responsibilities, Samantha is immersed in the joys and challenges of raising a young family. Her ability to stay organised and adaptable under pressure is equally evident at home and in her work. Recently inspired by a family trip to the Limestone Coast of South Australia, she is eager to continue exploring Australia, embracing new experiences and deepening her appreciation for the country’s diverse environments.
Natalya Ward
Emergency Management & Compliance Specialist
Natalya Ward is our Emergency Management and Compliance Specialist. After completing her law degree in 2025, Natalya found a natural way to combine her love of the law with her passion for the environment, helping organisations navigate emergency management, business continuity and compliance.
Highly organised, personable and quick-witted, Natalya brings a strong legal lens to her work, with a particular strength in interpreting legislation and regulation and translating complex requirements into practical outcomes.
Never one to stop learning, Natalya is continuing her studies with a Bachelor of Arts and Environmental Science, bringing together her interests in the environment and Italian language and culture. Having spent six months living in Milan while on exchange, she caught the travel bug and now takes every opportunity to explore somewhere new. When she isn’t travelling, studying or planning her next adventure, you’ll likely find her winding down with a good book.
Reilly Remilton
Organisational Resilience Consultant
Reilly brings over a decade of experience in healthcare operations, sales leadership and technical coordination, with a proven ability to manage complex workflows, support critical systems and maintain strong client relationships. Since joining Resilient Services, she has developed specialist expertise in emergency management and organisational resilience, contributing to the design, planning and delivery of complex emergency exercises for critical infrastructure organisations including Goulburn-Murray Water, Ports Victoria, GeelongPort and Yarra Valley Water. Her experience spans Part 7A emergency exercises, role-based emergency management training and exercise evaluation, helping clients strengthen organisational resilience, validate emergency management arrangements and identify practical opportunities for continuous improvement.
In her spare time, Reilly enjoys spending time with her family, discovering local food spots, exploring the outdoors, or relaxing with a good movie or television series.
Macey Polwart
Geohazards & Emergency Management Specialist
Macey Polwart is a geohazards and emergency management specialist with a professional background as a mine geologist. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geology, a Master of Disaster, Risk, and Resilience, and a Master of Science. Her expertise centres on assessing and managing natural hazards, particularly those of geological origin, and integrating this knowledge into comprehensive emergency management strategies to enhance risk reduction and resilience.
Macey has contributed her skills across both the resources sector and emergency services, bringing a multidisciplinary perspective to crisis planning and resilience initiatives. She excels in translating complex risk information into actionable strategies that support organisational readiness and community safety. She is passionate about building safer, more adaptive systems and continues to deliver high-impact work in disaster risk and resilience planning.
Emma Somlai
Administration Officer
Emma Somlai is our administration superstar and resident phone-answering guru, often the first friendly voice you’ll hear when you contact Resilient Services. As a key first point of contact for our clients, Emma helps keep the team organised, connected and running smoothly behind the scenes.
With years of experience across administration, employment services and allied health, along with a qualification in Business Administration, Emma brings a highly organised, personable and practical approach to everything she does. She’s also continuing to build her knowledge of the risk management and resilience industry and loves being part of a team where there’s always something new to learn.
Born and raised in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley, Emma is a mum of one who loves spending time with family and friends, keeping active and, by her own admission, indulging her inner shopaholic.
What our clients are saying
“It was thoroughly enjoyable to work with the team at Resilient Services. Clearly, this team is enthusiastic, enjoys what they do, and is proud of what they produce.”
Head of Corporate Risk.
Oil and Gas Producer
“What stood out about Resilient was their practical approach. Meeting the team impressed me with their focus on practical solutions rather than theoretical consultant-driven approaches.”
Geelong Port.
General Manager for Health, Safety, Environment, & Quality
“Business continuity plan is comprehensive and flawless.”
Top 4 Australian
Accounting Firm 2021
Practical Guides & Resources
Strengthen Your Organisation’s Resilience
Practical emergency management, business continuity and crisis management advice backed by real-world experience.
Emergency Management & Business Continuity Specialists
- Review your current emergency preparedness and continuity capability
- Identify key risks, response gaps, and improvement opportunities
- Receive actionable next-step recommendations tailored to your organisation