A message from Deirdre Hardy, Future Connect CEO

After nearly 8 years at Future Connect I’ve made the difficult decision to resign as CEO. This role has been incredibly fulfilling for me and has afforded me many opportunities for which I am very thankful.

I’ve been struck by the generosity and passion to make a difference that exists across our entire community. During my time here, I’ve had the privilege of working with incredible people, including the inspiring young people that we work with, the staff, past and present and the deeply committed board. Our partners and school staff have impressed me with their understanding of the challenges faced by young people transitioning from school, which is paired with a pragmatism that makes collaboration easy.

It has been a period of evolution for Future Connect. Beyond our outward transformation, including a major rebrand, we have strengthened the way we work internally. Embedding codesign and effectively centring the voices of young people is the greatest achievement. This focus has culminated in the development of WestAs the umbrella initiative that brings together YouthGrounds and Future Recruit. These programs broaden our impact, create organisational sustainability, and open doors for young people — including those facing substantial barriers.

I also want to highlight the work that has gone into restructuring the governance of the organisation, including completely redeveloping Rules of Association and revamping policies and procedures which culminated in achieving both DGR status and social enterprise accreditation. This was only possible with the incredible support of a committed and engaged board.

But above all, I am most proud of the culture we’ve built. Future Connect is a happy, collaborative, and deeply values-driven place to work. Every member of the team demonstrates a genuine commitment to supporting young people through key transitions, and it has been a privilege to witness and support that passion.

As I step aside, I will continue to cheer Future Connect on from the sidelines. I am confident the organisation’s best chapters are still ahead.