Skye Maconachie

2022 Chancellor's Award Recipient, College of Arts, Society and Education

Skye has led an inspiring journey from volunteer to co-CEO of Blue Dragon Children's Foundation, a charity that helps street kids and rescues victims from slavery and human trafficking in Vietnam.

Skye’s long history at Blue Dragon started in 2003 when she first volunteered with the fledgling Foundation. As a result of that first experience Skye returned many times over the next 12 years, either as a self-funded volunteer or via Australian government programs.

Skye has worked in Settlement Services at Centacare Migrant Services in Cairns, assisting individuals and families with complex needs before moving back to Vietnam in 2015 where she has trained and mentored staff in youth engagement. Skye has developed and implemented programs for street children and survivors of human trafficking, as well as developing best practice models for psycho-social support for street children, survivors of human trafficking and victims of child sexual abuse.

Skye studied a Master of Social Work at JCU before joining Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation full-time in 2016. In 2020 Skye was appointed co-CEO giving her responsibility for programs and child safeguarding. Working alongside Blue Dragon founder Michael Brosowski OAM, this team approach to leadership is a pioneering step for international charities in Vietnam.

During the recent COVID pandemic, Skye led the 120 staff of Blue Dragon as it adapted its operations to deliver much needed services and extend those services to focus on the broader community by delivering food packages and emergency aid to thousands of people who were deep in crisis due to the pandemic.

Skye is an inspiring leader in the not-for-profit community, leading by example to better the lives of children, victims of human trafficking and the community throughout Vietnam.