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Keeping Watch Grants Committee Members

The Grants Committee is made up of both currently serving and reserve senior members of the Royal Australian Navy. All of the Committee members have had distinguished careers in their own right and appointed because of their keen interest in the well-being of those who serve the nation through service in the Royal Australian Navy. They include:

Commodore Eric Young, RAN (Chair)

Commodore Eric Young, RAN (Chair)

Eric Young joined the Royal Australian Navy as a Maritime Warfare Officer in January 1994 from Central Queensland. He is a Maritime Warfare Officer specialising in both Anti-Submarine and Air Warfare. He has served in a variety of staff roles in Fleet Headquarters, Navy Headquarters, Australian Defence Headquarters, Headquarters Joint Operations Command, Maritime Border Command, and Maritime Task Force Headquarters in the Indo-Pacific and Middle East. In addition to his broad Navy career, he has diverse Federal Government experience, including a mid-career break to work in Industry, where he was an Account General Manager. In late 2020, Commodore Young assumed the role of Director-General United States Force Posture Initiatives and the Australia-Singapore Military Training Initiative.
Commodore Drew McKinnie, RAN

Commodore Drew McKinnie, RAN

Commodore Drew McKinnie, RAN completed full time service in 2009. He is now a technical member of the RAN Seaworthiness Board, and has also contributed to improving RAN risk management policies and systems. Since 2010 he has worked as a negotiation and stakeholder management consultant and trainer with ENS International, working with Defence and other government and commercial enterprises. He has also consulted to Defence Strategic Policy Group on industry policy, strategic and enterprise risks and strategic policy development. He is a member of the Board of the Kokoda Foundation, contributing to leadership development programs and strategic dialogue on national security affairs. An active sporting aviator, Drew is also the Chairman of the Operations Panel and Board member for the Gliding Federation of Australia.
Commander Christina Ween, RAN

Commander Christina Ween, RAN

CMDR Ween joined the RAN in 1993 and graduated from ADFA. She has served as both a Seaman Officer and Maritime Logistics Officer with operational service in HMA Ships Ipswich, Newcastle, Melbourne, Manoora, Success and Tobruk. CMDR Ween has served in a variety of shore postings including waterfront logistics, ML category sponsorship and Community Management, ADFA officer training, Military Personnel Policy, Strategic Maritime Logistics and Project Management. She is a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff College and is currently the Director Maritime Allowance Review and a Trustee to the RAN Relief Trust Fund.
Commander Lauren Milburn, RAN

Commander Lauren Milburn, RAN

Commander Milburn joined the RAN in 1994 as a Maritime Warfare Officer and later transferred to Aviation Warfare Officer in 2003. CMDR Milburn has served in multiple HMA Ships, deploying on operations to the Middle East three times. Her experience includes postings with the Royal Australian Air Force at 92 Wing, in Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour, and overseas as the Maritime Surveillance Advisor to the Federated States of Micronesia. CMDR Milburn completed her Masters (Business) at University of Newcastle in 2012 and is a qualified leadership coach. In July 2021, CMDR Milburn was appointed as Navy Women’s Strategic Advisor.
Lieutenant Shannon Cooper, RAN

Lieutenant Shannon Cooper, RAN

Lieutenant Shannon Cooper is a Legal Officer in the Royal Australian Navy, with 17 years' professional experience within both State and Commonwealth Public Service and private practice, predominately in personal injury and commercial litigation. In 2019, Lieutenant Cooper commissioned as a Legal Officer and is currently posted to Directorate of Operations and International Law.
Warrant Officer of the Navy, Deb Butterworth, OAM, CSM and Bar

Warrant Officer of the Navy, Deb Butterworth, OAM, CSM and Bar

Deb Butterworth enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy as a Stores Naval Sailor in 1989 and she has served in a wide range of ships and establishments. Promoted to Warrant Officer in July 2007, she held positions in Joint Logistic Unit (West) and Sea Training Group Major Fleet Units prior to assuming the role as the Ship's Warrant Officer in HMAS Success in December 2011. In July 2017, Deb was appointed to the role of Command Warrant Officer Training Force until July 2019. Warrant Officer Butterworth was appointed on 22 November 2019 as the Royal Australian Navy's ninth Warrant Officer of the Navy.

WHAT DO OUR NAVY FAMILIES SAY?

  • M Bult - HMAS Hobart

    When there was an unfortunate circumstance that resulted in financial hardship for a family member, Keeping Watch was eager to help out as much as possible. My divisional staff were more than accommodating to ensure that I understood the process, and between them and the Keeping Watch team I was constantly reassured that the help my family desperately needed at the time was being organised. Keeping Watch is the light at the end of the tunnel, you just need to reach out and ask for the help.

  • D Smith - Canberra

    I cannot thank Keeping Watch for helping us in our time of need. We were struggling with living expenses after a death in the family and I found out about Keeping Watch. I'm so glad I conatcted them to see how they could help. They were amazing throughout and the money could not have come at a better time. We are now moving forward positively and looking to the future. Thank you so much.

  • R James - Canberra

    I would highly recommend Keeping Watch if you need financial help and are a Navy family. We experienced an unexpected family crisis and we were struggling to meet daily living expenses and child care costs. Keeping Watch helped us through this difficult situation with a grant and offered some very valuable advise on how to deal with the loss. If you need help, contact Keeping Watch.