Karen Mahlab
Karen Mahlab, AM, is an Australian businesswoman, philanthropist, and social entrepreneur whose work has focused on developing infrastructure and communication channels within Australia's charity and media fields. She is known for founding Pro Bono Australia, a media organisation serving the Australian civil society sector.[1] Mahlab has also co-founded social enterprises focused on connecting communities, non-profit organisations, volunteers, philanthropic groups, and businesses.[2]
Education and training
Mahlab attended Presbyterian Ladies College, graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Economics (BEc), and holds certifications in Yoga Teacher Training, Reiki, and Soul-Centred Psychotherapy.[3]
Career
Mahlab was the CEO and Founder of Pro Bono Australia, Australia's first online social sector publisher.[4] Established in 2000, Pro Bono Australia operated as an online information hub serving Australia's community and non-profit sectors until 2023.[5] The platform provided news coverage of sector developments, a job board for non-profit positions, information about charitable organizations and their services, details on corporate community initiatives, and links to volunteering opportunities.[6]
Mahlab has also co-founded several social enterprise and philanthropic startups, including The Public Interest Journalism Initiative, which conducts research into how to make Australian public interest journalism sustainable;[7] PS Media, a collaborative local media service that co-creates the news with the communities it serves;[8] and the MacroMelbourne Initiative, a Melbourne Community Foundation project researching socioeconomic disadvantage.[9]
As a volunteer, Mahlab has served in numerous leadership and governance positions across philanthropic, cultural, and social justice organizations.[10] She has been Chair of the Australian Art Orchestra since 2016 and of Victoria University's Sir Zelman Cowen Centre since 2019. Her previous board memberships include the Reichstein Foundation (2015-2019), Ten20 Foundation (2014), Jewish Aid Australia (2008-2012), and the National Council of Jewish Women Foundation Victoria (2007-2015). Mahlab was a long-term board member (2002-2012) and later Ambassador (2012-present) for the Australian Communities Foundation, where she initiated and chaired the MacroMelbourne Initiative (2006-2011), which directed over $2 million to projects addressing urban disadvantage.[11]
Appointments and recognition
In 2012, Mahlab was named one of Australia's top 100 Women of Influence by the Australian Financial Review newspaper.[12]
In 2015, she was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for her contributions to the not-for-profit sector and philanthropic initiatives.[13]
In 2016, Mahlab was one of 29 Victorian finalists in the Telstra Business Women's Awards in the category of Social Purpose Businesses.[14]
In 2017, she was appointed Chair of the Advisory Committee of Swinburne University of Technology’s Social Innovation Research Institute,[15] which partners with communities, industries, and not-for-profit organizations to create solutions to complex social problems.[16]
In 2019, she was named Chair of Victoria University's Sir Zelman Cowen Centre, which provides specialized legal training and education while promoting social cohesion through community engagement programs.[17]
References
- ^ Pro Bono Australia (2023). "Karen Mahlab AM". Pro Bono Australia: Our Contributors. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Social Enterprise World Forum (2025). "Karen Mahlab AM". Retrieved 17 March 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Mahlab, Karen (2025). "Education". LinkedIn. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Anthill Magazine (29 April 2016). "Who said doing good as a business has to stop you from raking in millions in profits?". Retrieved 17 March 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Pro Bono Australia (2025). "Home". Retrieved 17 March 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Staff Reporter (12 October 2012). "Pro Bono Australia Founder Named as a Woman of Influence". Pro Bono Australia. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Public Interest Journalism Initiative (2023). "Board Members". Retrieved 17 March 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ PS Media (2025). "About". Retrieved 17 March 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Staff Reporter (25 May 2016). "MCF - 'MacroMelbourne Initiative'". Pro Bono Australia. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Mahlab, Karen (2025). "Volunteering". LinkedIn. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Australian Communities Foundation (1 March 2014). "Overview of MacroMelbourne – Phase 1 & 2 (2005 to 2011)". Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
- ^ Hooper, Narelle; Fox, Catherine (12 October 2012). "Meet Australia's 100 Women of Influence". Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
- ^ Australian Government Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (8 June 2015). "Ms Karen Mahlab: Member of the Order of Australia". Retrieved 17 March 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Caneva, Lina (11 October 2016). "Karen Mahlab Vic Finalist in Telstra Business Women's Awards". Pro Bono Australia. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Swinburne University of Technology (31 October 2017). "Social Innovation Research Institute appoints Advisory Committee Chair". Retrieved 17 March 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Swinburne University of Technology (2025). "Social Innovation Research Institute". Retrieved 17 March 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Victoria University - Cowen Centre (18 March 2019). "Cowen Centre welcomes Karen Mahlab AM as Chair". Retrieved 17 March 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)