
Valerie Richards, General Manager, Paul Brown, outgoing Jigsaw CEO and General Manager of Fighting Chance, Nina Murphy, Fighting Chance CEO
November 2024 sees The Fighting Chance Group say goodbye to Paul Brown: an original employee and co-founder of Jigsaw. Paul is stepping down as CEO of Jigsaw and Group General Manager for Fighting Chance after 12 years of continuous service to our organisation and community.
Paul co-founded Jigsaw back in 2014 with Laura and Jordan O’Reilly, and has led it since its inception. Under his leadership, Jigsaw has grown from one customer and two employees with disability, to a national business which has supported over 1500 people to prepare for employment.
Paul says, “I am proud of the impact we have achieved together, especially Jigsaw’s expansion to five hubs across Australia. Earlier in 2024, we reached the incredible milestone of more than $10m in award wages and super paid to people with disability.
“Whilst I am sad to move on, I’ll be staying connected as a member of both Fighting Chance and Jigsaw’s Board of Directors, and am looking forward to exploring an exciting new role in philanthropy.”
Laura O’Reilly, who remains firmly connected to the Group’s leadership and direction from her position on the Board, says:
“Paul has had an enormous 12 years with Fighting Chance: firstly founding, establishing, leading and growing Jigsaw, and then broadening to lead the whole organisation. He has done an outstanding job and I’ve loved every moment of working side by side with him.”
With Paul’s departure, we welcome Valerie Richards as the new General Manager of Jigsaw, and Nina Murphy as the new Fighting Chance Group CEO.
Val has been with the Fighting Chance Group for eighteen months as Jigsaw’s People and Culture Business Partner. She has over 15 years experience in the not-for-profit space bringing extensive business management, organisational leadership and operations experience. This includes launching and leading social enterprises. Val has worked with communities across her career that have been marginalised and excluded from society and brings this passion and advocacy for social justice into her new role.
Nina has been with us since 2015 in a variety of roles, most recently as a General Manager. She has a 17 year career in the Australian not-for-profit sector spanning business development, operational, strategic and executive positions; and will be leading the Group with her lived experience in mind.
Nina was diagnosed with a neurological disorder (Myalgic encephalomyelitis) as an adult, and also has lived experience of mental illness. “I have a genuine understanding of some of the experiences of our community. This, along with a passion for social justice, and a deep respect for the founding family and our values, is what will be motivating me as CEO”.
Co-founder and Director Laura O’Reilly says “Nina understands where we’ve come from, and where we are going, and along with the Board, I have the utmost confidence that the Fighting Chance community is in good hands as the NDIS and our organisation continues to grow and change”.