Lucas Patchett Shortlisted for
Not-for-Profit Executive of the Year
“Recognition that belongs
to all of us.”
We’re thrilled to share some exciting news… our co-founder and CEO, Lucas Patchett, has been shortlisted for Not-for-Profit Executive of the Year at The CEO Magazine Executive of the Year Awards!
While Lucas is the one being recognised, he’d be the first to say this achievement belongs to every single person who’s part of the Orange Sky community. From the 3,500+ volunteers who show up on shift each week, to our 70+ dedicated staff members, to the donors and partners who back our mission, to the friends who trust us with their possessions and their stories, this shortlisting celebrates all of us.
Since stepping into the CEO role in 2019, with Nic continuing in his Co-Founder and Innovation role, Lucas has led Orange Sky through incredible growth. We’ve expanded from $9.5M to $26.9M in social impact, grown to 464 weekly shifts across 56 locations in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, and deepened our work in remote First Nations communities where we’re making real health outcomes possible.
While Lucas didn’t take out the top gong at the CEO Magazine Awards Night, it remains a great honour to be recognised alongside such inspiring leaders doing exceptional work across the sector.
We’re proud to reflect on the incredible outcomes achieved during Lucas’ 6 year tenure as CEO, and every shift, every donation, every conversation made possible by Orange Sky supporters.
What makes Lucas’s leadership special isn’t just the numbers, it’s how he leads.
He’s built a culture where his door is always open, where innovation happens at every level – supporting staff to explore their big ideas, and where everyone (including Lucas) stays connected to our mission by getting out on shift with our friends.
His approach has always been about collaboration over command. Whether it’s partnering with communities to understanding their needs, or creating the space for our team to test new ideas and celebrate ”giving things a crack,” Lucas leads by empowering others to lead too.
It’s pretty special to think back to 2014, when Lucas and his best mate Nic converted that first van, “Sudsy,” into the world’s first mobile laundry service.
Twenty years old with a simple idea: everyone deserves clean clothes and a safe space for a friendly chat. That idea has grown into something bigger than any of us imagined, but it’s never lost the warmth and connection that started it all. And that’s down to Lucas’s commitment to staying true to why we exist, even as we grow.
Here’s to grassroots ideas, collaborative leadership, and the power of showing up, week after week, shift after shift, conversation after conversation.
Thanks for being part of the journey with us.
