7. From Serving Wine to Serving Humanity
Richard Vanderburg, Chief Program Officer of Wine to Water
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Imagine what your life would be like if you had to walk miles to and from your water source every single day. Wine to Water is an organization focused on bringing water equity to parts of the world where this is the reality. In this episode, we’re joined by Richard Vanderburg, Wine to Waters very own Chief Program Officer. Vanderburg experienced firsthand the sharp dichotomy between the privileged hospitals of Australia and the dramatically underserved conditions in South East Asia. His experience volunteering changed the trajectory of his career forever and he joined Wine to Water to make a real difference.
Vanderburg took his background in nursing and pivoted to manage health worker engagement and education programs. He has developed and implemented global strategies for numerous international, non-governmental organizations. You’ll learn more about on the ground disaster relief and how his team prioritizes in such dramatic circumstances. Vanderburg explains how Wine to Water implements programs that can ultimately be run by the citizens of these countries. If you’re looking for your next volunteer opportunity, this is a great episode for you to tune into!
In this Episode, We Cover:
The Name Wine to Water: Hetal asks about the origin of the organization's name and Richard explains the story behind it.
Richard's Background and Role at Wine to Water: Richard talks about his background as a nurse and his involvement in humanitarian organizations before joining Wine to Water as Chief Program Officer.
Disaster Relief Programs: Richard discusses the challenges and strategies involved in disaster relief programs, emphasizing the importance of a detailed assessment to understand the problem and find solutions.
Designing Disaster Relief Programs: Richard discusses the challenges of providing clean water to communities affected by natural disasters, and how Wine to Water designs programs to address their needs.
Water Accessibility Programs: Wine to Water's programs to improve water accessibility and quality in areas such as the Amazon region of Colombia, including drilling wells and constructing water towers.
Volunteer Trips and Community Involvement: Wine to Water's volunteer program and community involvement model, including the establishment of water usage committees and co-investment opportunities, to ensure sustainable and culturally appropriate solutions.
How to get involved with Wine to Water: Richard explains how to participate as a volunteer or supporter and highlights the organization's website as a valuable communication tool.
Ordinary people can make a difference: Vanderburg emphasizes the idea that ordinary people can make a difference and encourages listeners to find a way to make an outflow in the world.
Who is Richard Vanderburg?
With over 20 years of experience in health service delivery, Richard Vanderburg is leading Wine To Water’s programs as the Chief Program Officer, which includes guiding critical disaster relief programs. Vanderburg’s experience ranges from managing clinical units in hospitals, to designing and implementing health programs in developing countries. He has designed, operated, monitored, and evaluated public and private international business development and programs, with a concentration of this work in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. In his diverse career, Vanderburg puts his experience as a specialized registered pediatric and peri-operative nurse to work delivering direct patient care across the world. In addition to managing health worker engagement and education programs, Vanderburg has developed and implemented global strategies for numerous international, non-governmental organizations. Vanderburg has a keen understanding of the relationship between higher acuity healthcare to public health, and public health as part of the broader humanitarian / development agenda. He believes in being “data informed” and uses outcomes and metrics to better articulate the impact of critical care and health programs in developing countries. He is the co-author of numerous publications on these programs. Originally from Australia, Vanderburg holds a Certificate in Nursing from the Queensland Nursing Council and received a post-graduate Bachelor of Nursing from the Australian Catholic University in 1994. He has his airman’s certificate and is a private pilot, with his Aircraft Single Engine Land (ASEL) and Aircraft Single Engine Sea (ASES), with his Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) Rating.
