Our Vision is to provide improved drinking water to better the quality of life of people living in rural areas of developing countries.
BridgIT is a result-focused Australian non-profit organisation dedicated to sustainable development by implementing programmes that provide a safe drinking water supply to address the water scarcity challenges in developing rural communities without access to clean and safe water.
Water is a human right, not a privilege. BridgIT firmly believes that now more than ever, the world needs corporates and individuals alike to tackle some of the more formidable challenges facing our global community. We all need to adopt an approach of investing in tomorrow through community partnerships which will drive economic prosperity by supporting partner organisations focused on community economic development. BridgIT would like to encourage businesses and individuals to embrace their social responsibility so that each can and must be a force for good.
BridgIT is a signatory to the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) Code of Conduct, a voluntary, self-regulatory sector code of good practice. As a signatory we are committed and fully adhere to the ACFID code and conducting our work with transparency, accountability and integrity.
Our Australian Board
Our Australian governing body, including directors and committee members, are super passionate about bridging some of the poverty challenges present in our modern world. BridgIT Water's team in Australia and collaborators internationally are proud to be part of its governance and collaboratively develop a clear vision and mission to successfully reach our strategic targets to help people throughout the world.
Wendy Tisdell OAM
Founding Director
Wendy was inspired to start BridgIT Water after volunteering in Jamaica in 2008. With over 25 years of experience as the Financial & Operations Director of a family business, switching her hand to directing a non-profit organisation just seemed logical. Wendy was awarded the Order of Australia medal in recognition of her contribution to Australian international aid. Wendy has responsibility for BridgIT's planning, organising, and fieldwork.
Mark Tisdell
Director, Technical
Mark brings 25 years of water engineering expertise to our water projects. Mark has extensive experience in pumping systems, fluid movement, water collection and storage systems and water treatment systems. Mark's technical expertise is used to aid the design and engineering with our implementing partners. Mark also acts as BridgIT's Risk Officer.
Josephine Wycherley
Director, Financial
Jo has been with the Foundation since its inception in 2009 and has travelled to Tanzania to work on a water project; therefore understands the foundation's projects in a hands-on way.
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Jo has 15 years of experience as a chartered accountant in public practice and, more recently, the Finance Manager for Domino's Pizza Enterprises. Jo has a strong technical background in financial reporting and tax, allowing her to make informed financial decisions in BridgIT's financial management.
Graham Howlett
Marketing Manager
Graham has worked for many years in the multi-media field and as such makes him the ideal Marketing Manager for BridgIT. Specifically, Graham acts as the IT and digital marketing consultant for BridgIT.
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Graham has a passion for helping people and is happy to put his experience to good use to aid those less fortunate than himself.
Melinda Metcalfe
Admin & Finance Assistant
Mel is a caring and generous person who loves helping people. Mel's experience as a bookkeeper and certified BAS agent make her ideal to assist with BridgIT's administration and financial duties. She is a busy little bee in the Foundation and her administration expertise is crucial.
Sue Birtles
Board Secretary
Sue has worked in the public and private sector in many parts of Australia and overseas. Sue is an experienced urban and social planner with many years of experience in urban and social planning in various levels of the commonwealth, state and local government, managing and developing large and small scale projects. Sue believes it is crucial to listen to people who are being helped and, wherever possible, involve them in the process. Failure to do so often results in products or outcomes that do not meet people's real needs.
Maria Phillips
Board Member
Maria loves all things charity and effective altruism and has a heart for water issues in the developing world. Maria volunteers her time to help BridgIT create and manage its marketing and social media strategy.
Maria brings varied experience in running small businesses and has been involved in childcare, hospitality and has a degree in myotherapy from the Endeavour College of Natural Health in Melbourne.
Maree Tisdell
Board Member
Maree has spent the last 40 years working in the Human Services sector across different environments including Child Protection, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, Community Engagement, Disability, Domestic and Family Violence and health. When people experience trauma or severe life stress, their lives often unravel. Maree's passion is to support people of all ages and from all backgrounds to find strength and positivity in their relationships and within themselves and to link them into their community.
Our Values & Guiding Principles
Trust
Form thriving trustful and participatory relationships with grassroots community-based partners.
Empowerment
The communities it serves must have a real need for and actively participate and buy-in to any projects undertaken in their location. The marginalised people in affected communities are empowered with the skills to take care of their water resource.
Accountability
Honest and transparent accountability of funds between its partners and donors.
Impact
Effective and efficient use of resources to drive every dollar invested further, resulting in a high-value return on investment, and projects that make a tangible and quantifiable impact on reducing poverty in its target communities.
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Communication
Open, transparent communication between partners, contractors, stakeholders, donors and volunteers.
Teamwork
Collaborative skills and knowledge sharing between partners, staff, contractors, donors and volunteers working together as a team to deliver its goals.
Quality
Any projects undertaken are completed with high quality for the recipient beneficiaries and the donors.
Safety
The safety of all community members, team members and partners is paramount.