Leslie Heagney is the Fundraising and Business Development Manager at Braille House, where she leads fundraising, business development, and marketing to grow support for the organisation’s mission.
Leslie brings more than two decades of experience in partnerships, fundraising, and community engagement across the not-for-profit sector. Before joining Braille House, she held leadership roles at Containers for Change QLD, the Children’s Hospital Foundation, and Australian Red Cross Lifeblood.
She is passionate about building strong relationships, advocating for meaningful causes and creating opportunities that drive lasting impact for the community.
Learn more about Leslie's passion for braille literacy, inclusion and the future of Braille House:
What inspires you about Braille House?
I'm inspired by the fact that Braille House continues to champion braille in a world that can sometimes overlook its importance. Every day I see the difference literacy, access to information and community can make in people's lives. I'm also continually amazed by what our small but dedicated team achieves.
What does accessibility and inclusion mean to you?
To me, accessibility is about ensuring people have the opportunity to choose their own path and participate fully in their community. I believe everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, respect and fairness, and I'm passionate about challenging assumptions that can limit opportunities for people who are blind or have low vision.
What would you like more people to understand about braille?
Braille is much more than a way to access information. It is literacy, independence, confidence and choice. I often say that we wouldn't stop teaching sighted children to read because audiobooks exist. In the same way, braille remains an essential tool that empowers people to learn, work and engage with the world on their own terms.
What are your hopes for the future?
I hope for a future where braille is recognised for what it truly is: a pathway to literacy, independence and opportunity. I would love to see greater awareness of the impact braille has on people's lives and stronger support for the organisations that make it accessible.
For Braille House, my hope is that we continue to grow our reach and influence, creating more opportunities for the community we serve while preserving an important legacy for future generations.