Annual Report 2023

Annual Report 2023

Executive Summary

2023 was a gargantuan year. We marked a milestone in turning 10, rebranded to better reflect our work and role
in the missing persons ecosystem, developed a worldfirst resource and solidified our position as a globally
recognised organisation.


I was invited to present at and participate in events
including the US National Missing and Unidentified
Persons Conference, Purdue University’s Cold Case
Symposium, Florida’s Missing Persons Day, Missing
People UK’s Innovation Day and the International Missing
Persons Conference in Cardiff, Wales. The response to
our work in each of these forums was phenomenal in
demonstrating our value to key stakeholders, and the
connections made with individuals and organisations
enthusiastic about the prospect of collaborating are a bonus.
The reception has been both a personal and professional
highlight. We are putting Australia on the map for the
cause of missing persons.


Our world-first therapeutic tool, The Hope Narratives,
won two Good Design Awards (Social Impact and
Communication Design). They’re also being used by
missing persons organisations, authorities, academics,
psychologists and families in over 10 countries, in an
increasingly broad variety of contexts, and have been
translated into four (soon to be five) languages. We
have plans to adapt them further by licensing them
to newfound friends and connections abroad and
establishing expansion packs for specific types of
disappearance.


After years of facilitating Ambiguous Loss Training with
Assoc. Professor Sarah Wayland, we produced a training
series that scales the program and makes it globally
accessible. Our Ambiguous Loss Masterclass launched
for National Missing Persons Week with significant media
coverage. It has already been used by over 1,000 people,
including a Turkish group supporting families impacted by
the devastating February 2023 earthquake.
Our foundation project (missingpersonsguide.com) still
provides invaluable direction for over 50 users a day, with
sustained praise and appreciation. Through 2023, we also
gave specific, individual, specialised support to 72 family
members in our network, across multiple platforms, over
many cups of coffee and homemade meals.
We continue to be a core source of support for all of our
stakeholders and a common line of praise we receive is
around the simple fact that – despite the challenges –
we’re still here.


We are sought after for specialist commentary. Weekly
we receive enquiries for media commentary, involvement
with podcasts, books, events, academic and artistic
projects in Australia and abroad. Our professionalism still
misleads people both in and outside the sector to assume
we are a fully funded, abundantly staffed organisation,
frequently demonstrated by requests and referrals from
authorities and medical professionals.


Feedback for our rebrand couldn’t have been more
overwhelmingly positive, evidenced by the perspective
and language shift vehemently adopted by families and
praise from some of the country’s most creative and
strategic minds. The new name can unequivocally be
credited with opening the doors to new and exciting
opportunities, such as a month-long fundraising
initiative with the iconic Hotel Windsor and their top-tier
restaurants.


In 2023, we proved our capabilities and capacity to scale.
Looking forward, there’s much to come. Encouraged by
a federal politician, we made our very first pre-budget
submission for the 2024 budget and will hopefully get the
funding most presume we already have, enabling us to
make even more impact. And, having just welcomed the
formidable Lili Greer to our board, I feel 2024 will be our
best year yet.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our cause,
our charity and our families.
Onwards and upwards,

Loren O’Keeffe
Founder and CEO