Remembering Our Founder
Youth Opportunities and our wider community are deeply saddened by the passing of Peter Marshman OAM - our Founder, Board Member and former Board Chairman, devoted advocate for young people, and dear friend.
A successful business leader, Peter understood the power of personal leadership and the potential for the principles of entrepreneurship to transform lives. Having led several prominent South Australian businesses, he recognised how these same principles could be applied beyond the workplace to help young people build confidence, discover their strengths and embrace opportunities they may never have thought possible.
In 1997, Peter founded Youth Opportunities with a vision to support young people facing adversity to build confidence, strengthen their wellbeing and develop the resilience to shape their own futures. He dedicated more than 30 years of his life to volunteering and improving the lives of others, and his extraordinary contribution has been recognised at both state and national levels. Peter was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) and named South Australian of the Year in the community sector in 2010.
Through Peter’s vision, Youth Opportunities has supported more than 20,000 young people, creating a positive ripple effect across families and communities. His belief in the power of personal leadership was unmatched, and his kindness, generosity and commitment to helping others will continue to guide our work for generations to come.
Peter was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in June 2025 and faced his journey with the same strength and dignity that defined his life. Throughout this time, he drew on the very tools and strategies he helped develop through the Youth Opportunities program, finding happiness, resilience and purpose even in the most challenging moments.
Peter was an inspirational leader that was passionate about ensuring every young person has the opportunity to be their best. His 30 years of commitment to this vision, driven by Youth Opportunities, has significantly impacted thousands of young South Australians in a positive way. Peter’s passion and vision never waned, being actively involved until his final days. We have a lost a great human being, and those of us that were lucky enough to work or be associated with Peter were certainly blessed.
- Nick Chigwidden, Youth Opportunities Chair
Peter’s legacy lives on in every young person who discovers their worth, finds their voice and begins to believe in what is possible. His vision will continue to shape lives long into the future.
We are deeply grateful to Peter for his extraordinary contribution, his unwavering belief in young people and the example he set for us all. He will be greatly missed, never forgotten, and forever part of the Youth Opportunities story. Our thoughts are with his wife Joan Marshman, children, Karen, David and Sandy and all of those that were lucky enough to know him and call him a friend.
