John Patterson is Acting Chief of Programs & Contracts at World Vision Australia, one of the country’s largest humanitarian organizations, stewarding more than AUD $300 million annually. He provides strategic oversight of international programming and First Nations partnerships, driving alignment between mission outcomes and commercial excellence. Previously, John served over a decade with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), leading responses to major crises including Afghanistan, Gaza, and the Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict. A former U.S. Navy officer, he has worked across more than 40 countries, advising senior officials and shaping humanitarian policy at the intersection of security, governance, and justice. John holds a Master’s in Peace and Justice from the University of San Diego and a B.S. from the U.S. Naval Academy, and is a published researcher on humanitarian action and disaster risk reduction.