Dr. Jean Renouf

Founder and CEO at Plan C

Jean is an academic, a firefighter and a dad to two young boys. Jean has spent years implementing emergency relief projects in disaster zones and countries at war, including Afghanistan, Congo, Haiti, Iraq, North Korea, and way more. All of this informs his passion for climate change, community regeneration and resilience and non-traditional security.

Jean’s knowledge of what it takes to respond to and prepare for long-term incidents and emergencies led him to found Plan C in 2019. His vision for a connected and thriving safety net through the region his children live in drives his everyday purpose. Jean believes that with enough support, training and deepened community relationships, the Northern Rivers can prosper and thrive through the climate emergency and other disruptions to our way of life.

Jean is an internationally recognised expert in climate change, community development and disaster resilience. He has worked as a first responder and in the recovery phases of major disasters, in some of the most challenging environments around the world.

As a scholar, Jean has completed a PhD in International Relations at the LSE; published several academic and non-academic papers; taught at several universities in Europe and Australia; and led and completed large-scale research projects in Afghanistan, Haiti, the Central African Republic and the Congo.

Jean has worked in Afghanistan, Australia, Bolivia, Central African Republic, Costa Rica, Cuba, DR Congo, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, North Korea, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Peru, Salvador, Türkiye, Yemen, Zambia, France, UK.

He is fluent in English, French and Spanish. Intermediate in Russian and Polish. Beginner in Arabic.

Jean loves making things with his hands, in particular if it involves woodwork. He’s absolutely loves camping and his best moments are when swimming, fishing and kayaking with his wife and two young boys.