# Laura O’Reilly

> Laura O’Reilly OAM is a Sydney-based social entrepreneur and co-founder of Fighting Chance and Hireup. Her work spans social enterprise, inclusive employment and platforms that give people more control over who works alongside them. After more than four years as Hireup CEO, she moved into a new role announced in January 2026, with Peter Willis succeeding her as CEO.

- **Role:** Co-founder at Hireup; Founder and Director at Fighting Chance
- **Organizations:** Hireup, Fighting Chance, Avenue, Jigsaw, 10x10 Philanthropy, NSW Disability Council
- **Education:** History, first-class honours; MA in History listed in Fighting Chance biography, University of Cambridge, Newnham College, Juris Doctor with Distinction, University of New South Wales, Leading and Building a Culture of Innovation (executive education programme), Harvard Business School Executive Education
- **Known for:** Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), June 2021, for service to people with disability., Joint recipient, 2021 NSW Pearcey Entrepreneur of the Year, with Jordan O’Reilly., Australian Women’s Weekly Woman of the Future, 2014.

## Career timeline

- **2010** — Graduated from Cambridge with first-class honours.
- **2011** — Co-founded Fighting Chance with Jordan O’Reilly while studying law.
- **2012** — Co-founded Avenue; began service on the NSW Disability Council, continuing until 2015.
- **2014** — Co-founded Jigsaw; received the Australian Women’s Weekly Woman of the Future award.
- **2015** — Launched Hireup with Jordan O’Reilly and Murray Bunton.
- **2018** — Westpac Social Change Fellow, as dated by Westpac Scholars and Fighting Chance.
- **2021** — Rejoined Hireup; received an OAM and shared the NSW Pearcey Entrepreneur of the Year award with Jordan.
- **2023** — Received the inaugural Helen Lynch AM Leadership Award.
- **2024** — Joined the board of 10x10 Philanthropy.
- **2026** — Moved from Hireup CEO into a new role announced January 28; Peter Willis became CEO.

## Achievements

- Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), June 2021, for service to people with disability.
- Joint recipient, 2021 NSW Pearcey Entrepreneur of the Year, with Jordan O’Reilly.
- Australian Women’s Weekly Woman of the Future, 2014.
- Inaugural Helen Lynch AM Leadership Award recipient, November 2023.
- Co-founded Fighting Chance, Avenue, Jigsaw and Hireup.

## Latest updates

- **2026-03** — Appeared on ABC Radio National Breakfast with Sally Sara to discuss creating a more inclusive society.
- **2026-01** — Hireup announced on January 28 that Peter Willis would succeed her as CEO and that she would move into a new role. The announcement does not give a formal title.
- **2025-08** — Featured in episode 392 of Humans of Purpose, discussing social enterprise and opportunities.

## Links

- Website: https://hireup.com.au/
- LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/laura-o-reilly-oam-gaicd-54a11a54

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/laura-oreilly
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23