Laura O’Reilly, 31, Sydney, CEO of Fighting Chance, a not-forprofit for young adults with disabilities.
2014 JUDGES’ CHOICE WINNER:
In 2011, Laura and her brother, Jordan, wanted a better future for their younger brother, Shane, who had cerebral palsy. They believed Shane should experience the things most of us take for granted: being part of a community, and working and living independently.
Since launching their organisation, Fighting Chance, Laura has raised more than $1 million and established a number of programs and social enterprises for young adults with a disability in Sydney. Winning in 2014 has made a huge difference to what Laura has been able to achieve. “We’ve grown significantly, expanding from one base to four,” says Laura. These four “hubs” are in Sydney, but Laura is hoping to grow Fighting Chance across NSW, and nationally. “Originally, it was supporting about 60 people, now its 200.
“We hope to be at capacity by the end of 2017,” says Laura. The Qantas bursaries allow Laura and her team to fly to Melbourne and Brisbane to lay the groundwork to open there. “The major thing with winning was the awareness and legitimacy it gave Fighting Chance. Women of the Future is prestigious; it’s a great accolade.”