As a young child Deb was involved with charity work helping her Mum with Meals On Wheels and other causes. Her charity work continued on aiding numerous charities over the decades when needed.

​Deb is self employed with a management background, largely in marketing. Well over a decade ago she founded/co-founded the large, information and support groups: Special Needs Adoption Australia, Adoption Australia and Singles Adoption Australia, among others.

​Knowing that many well-meaning people tend to donate items that are not needed or cannot be used in an emergency situation, and also that many people want to help but don't know where or how, Deb devised a model that mobilises and educates the community while helping those in need, as organised and fast as possible and Bayside Community Emergency Relief was born.

Katie first connected with BCER during the 2020 bushfire crisis, contributing donations and following the organisation’s rapid growth and impact. Over the years she continued to support BCER, and in 2025 she stepped into an active volunteer role. Since then, Katie has been involved in donation sorting, packing sessions, logistics support and community engagement, as well as assisting with BCER’s fundraising initiatives, including the 2026 Christmas in July event. Katie has always believed in the importance of supporting grassroots, volunteer‑driven organisations. She has volunteered with NFP community groups for many years and is passionate about strengthening community resilience and ensuring practical help reaches people experiencing hardship.
As a long‑time Glen Eira local, Katie enjoys being part of a community that looks after one another and is proud to contribute to an organisation that makes such a meaningful difference across Victoria

Louis is a Chartered Accountant with more than 25 years of experience in finance and strategy across a diverse range of industries. Starting from a Big Four accounting firm, and now an accounting manager in a payment solution company, he is keen to give back to community through his financial knowledge through supporting Bayside Community Emergency Relief.

Louis first volunteered after finishing his accountancy studies and did regular hospital visits and community support in his hometown (Johor, Malaysia), providing aid for those who needed it. After migrating to Australia, Louis continues his involvement in charitable activities such as humanitarian aid, weekend community school and nursing home visits.

Having experienced hardship in the past, this drives Louis to offer hope to those who face difficulties and to ultimately build a more compassionate world.

Born in Vietnam Tracy arrived in Australia as a young child with her family as refugees in the 1980’s, Tracy experienced the life changing blessings that organisations such as BCER provided to people in need

and is a strong believer in the work that BCER does and the initiatives that are timely deployed which directly helps improve the lives of others in our community. Tracy was first drawn to BCER as a contributor in response to the bushfire emergency in 2020. Since then, she has been a supporter of BCER over the years.

With a finance and property industry background and more than 20 years of experience in the private sector, Tracy hopes that she can use her experience to make a greater contribution to the community and provide help to others like the support that was once accorded to her family.

We're on the hunt for a dynamic new team member. Watch this space!

Nubu is a passionate and creative graphic designer with a dedication and love for community service. Joining BCER, she blends her professional skills with her desire to make a positive impact. With more than five years of experience in the marketing, social media, and graphic design fields, Nubu has served as a lead graphic designer and art director for numerous European projects, such as the LifeSaver Project (BioTech), and has volunteered her skills extensively for organisations that focus on supporting the community, the environment, and people.

Patricia joined Bayside Community Emergency Relief to give back to the community and give herself a purpose. She was previously a fundraising officer with the Special Olympics helping raise much needed funds to get athletes essential equipment and travel expenses.

She enjoys fundraising for causes and interacting with people for all backgrounds and couldn’t think of a more deserving charity to give her time and effort to.

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Ryan brings a background in programming, UX/UI design, web technologies and IT support to the Bayside Community Emergency Relief (BCER) Committee. With a Diploma in UX and Web Design and experience developing websites, managing digital systems and troubleshooting technical issues, he enjoys using technology to help organisations work more efficiently.

Ryan's passion for community service is deeply personal. Growing up in a disadvantaged household, he experienced firsthand the positive impact that community organisations can have on families facing difficult circumstances. Those experiences inspired a lifelong desire to give back.

Before joining the Committee, Ryan volunteered with BCER, assisting with sorting and preparing essential items, setting up for the Christmas in July event at Brighton Town Hall, transporting supplies and helping wherever needed. He has also volunteered with Mercy Health, providing peer support in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU).

As a Committee Member, Ryan provides technical support, assists with troubleshooting IT issues, helps improve internal processes through clear documentation and SOPs, and explores practical ways technology and AI can support volunteers. He is passionate about using his technical skills and lived experience to strengthen BCER's ability to support the local community.