Hireup appoints former Facebook and Google executive
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A peer-to-peer platform which is transforming the way Australians with disability find, hire and manage support workers welcomes new global tech talent to Australia’s disability sector with the appointment of Sonia Flynn as the organisation’s first Chief Operating Officer.
Moving to Australia this year and consulting to Hireup for three months prior to her appointment, Flynn witnessed Hireup’s impact, the company’s vision and the scale of its current operations first hand as she met with various Hireup community members and worked alongside the mission-driven HQ team.
Leaning on her experience in building engaged communities at Facebook, SoundCloud and Google, Flynn is being brought in to play a pivotal role in helping Hireup scale its reach and impact, creating new efficiencies throughout the organisation and leading a new wave of innovative thinking.
Flynn said she was excited about the opportunity to help shape the future of the disability sector in Australia, revealing “I see endless possibilities. The notion of community is very strong here at Hireup and I’m very motivated to help Hireup succeed – ultimately offering our service and platform to more people in more parts of Australia”.
“For the majority of my career, I’ve always been focused on how we can use technology to form deeper and more meaningful connections between people and communities. The ongoing relationships that Hireup builds between people demonstrate to me how technology can offer a scalable, empowering new way for people to find the support they need on their own terms,” she said.
Australian tech scene is really buoyant and while there is no playbook, Flynn said. Hireup is in a unique position to shape the adoption of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and continue to build a model that is fit for purpose in serving its community.
“I’m delighted to welcome Sonia to the Hireup family. As a seasoned and trusted leader with extensive experience in some of the world’s leading consumer technology businesses, I’m confident Sonia will be instrumental to ensuring Hireup is able to fulfill its potential in reaching and offering services to communities throughout Australia. We won’t stop until we feel everyone has access to and is in control of their own supports, because that is the promise of the NDIS,” Jordan O’Reilly, Co-founder and CEO of Hireup said.
O’Reilly finds it incredible to think that as a for-purpose organisation, primarily set up to solve a major social challenge, they were able to attract the best talent in the world. “It’s like reverse Silicon Valley!”
“We’re now at that inflection point as an organisation where people can see the value and potential in what we’re doing – not just in building a world-class business, but in truly empowering our community and solving a major social challenge in a highly impactful and scalable way,” he said.
With this appointment, Hireup continues to strengthen its leadership team with the recent additions of Nicky Brown (former Fairfax) as Head of People and Culture, Matt Brown (former Ansarada) as Chief Product Officer, and Josh Masters (former Qantas) as Head of Strategy.
Pearl Dy is a community manager and journalist. She is passionate about business and development particularly involving not-for-profits, charity and social entrepreneurship.
