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The Smith Family CEO recognised for impact on young Australians in need

Media releases

09 December 2016

Chief Executive Officer of The Smith Family, Dr Lisa O’Brien has received Pro Bono Australia’s 2016 Impact 25 Award in recognition of her impact in the social sector.

In company with 25 leaders from some of Australia’s most respected organisations, Lisa was selected by the public for her significant contribution to improving the educational outcomes of disadvantaged young Australians.

Through Lisa’s leadership and vision for the organisation, The Smith Family is now well-known as a sector leader making a difference to the lives of disadvantaged children and their families through its educational support programs.

During her five years as CEO, Lisa has driven the successful implementation of a strategic plan which has significantly increased the effectiveness and reach of The Smith Family’s programs. Each year these programs support over 100,000 disadvantaged Australian children and young people to improve their educational outcomes.

Central to this success has been Lisa’s focus on enhancing the impact of The Smith Family’s programs, and using the organisation’s knowledge and experience to contribute to education policy.

Innovation is at the forefront of her work, demonstrated most recently through the development of a digital inclusion strategy for disadvantaged students and families, in being a leader in the workplace giving space, and through the streamlining of the organisation’s supporter channels including a user-friendly online portal and donation website.

The Smith Family’s work, as led by Lisa, provides clear evidence that through collaborative partnerships and a whole-of-organisation focus on effectiveness, highly disadvantaged young Australians can achieve strong educational outcomes.

Read the full list Pro Bono Australia’s Top 25 Impact Award winners here: www.pbaimpact.com

Media contacts:

Andrew Dickson | National Media Manager (National) - 0421 285 529 | andrew.dickson@thesmithfamily.com.au
Carla Horton | Senior Media Advisor (QLD & WA) - 0423 618 776 | carla.horton@thesmithfamily.com.au
Reid Jermyn | Media Advisor (VIC, SA & NT) - 0412 803 566 | reid.jermyn@thesmithfamily.com.au
Ben Chenoweth | Senior Media Advisor (NSW, ACT & TAS) - 0413 346 934 | ben.chenoweth@thesmithfamily.com.au

The Smith Family is a national children’s education charity that helps young Australians experiencing disadvantage to create better futures for themselves through harnessing the power of education. We partner with around 800 Australian schools and work with over 162,000 children and young people experiencing disadvantage access our education support programs to help them overcome . For more information, visit thesmithfamily.com.au