Richard Adams is the Founder, and National Operations Director, of Taskforce Kiwi, a veteran-led, not-for-profit New Zealand disaster relief organisation consisting primarily of former armed service, police and emergency service members. 

Richard will briefly discuss the history of taskforce Kiwi before focusing on how Taskforce Kiwi has assisted in disaster relief and recovery responses to the recent Auckland and Hawkes Bay flooding. Mission-focussed, task-oriented, Taskforce Kiwi provides a skilled, and motivated, resource pool to emergency management authorities while also working directly with communities to understand and address the community's needs in order to help them get back on their feet sooner. Born and raised in New Zealand, Richard is a British Army veteran whose leadership during the Australian Black Summer Fires culminated in him being awarded the National Emergency Medal by the Australian Government