Jason Benn: Country Director – USA
Jason has been a high school teacher in Australia and Canada for 22 years. He first learned about Ratanak International through his wife, Eileen, who is from British Columbia and had supported the foundation for several years. Together with their three children, they have alternated between living in Canada and Australia, Jason’s home country. After a few years of being no more involved than as a regular donor, it was a surprise in 2010 when the Ratanak office in Vancouver asked them to host Brian McConaghy while he was on a speaking tour of northern British Columbia. They were blessed by having the close personal experience of sharing their home with Brian and hearing him speak.
A year later and while living back in Australia, Jason was invited by Brian to spend a week in Cambodia with others from the UK and Canada. While there in 2011 he met Brian Harper and was able to attend a meeting of international Ratanak members in Phnom Penh. He was amazed to see how clearly evident the Gospel of Christ is being lived by the staff of Ratanak and partner organizations. After seeing transformation that is only possible with God, Jason felt called to be more involved. He has served on the board as chairman of Ratanak Australia since it became a registered company in 2013. After Brian Harper stepped down as country director in 2015, Jason has taken on this position. He was part of the inaugural International Steering Committee meetings with other Ratanak country directors from Canada, UK, USA and Cambodia.
Jason is a member of the Leadership Team at Swansea District Baptist Church and is an active member of Caves Beach Surf Lifesaving club. You can contact him at jason.benn@ratanak.org.