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

  1. ^ Pro Bono Australia (2023). "Karen Mahlab AM". Pro Bono Australia: Our Contributors. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  2. ^ Social Enterprise World Forum (2025). "Karen Mahlab AM". Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  3. ^ Mahlab, Karen (2025). "Education". LinkedIn. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Pro Bono Australia (2025). "Home". Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  6. ^ Staff Reporter (12 October 2012). "Pro Bono Australia Founder Named as a Woman of Influence". Pro Bono Australia. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  7. ^ Public Interest Journalism Initiative (2023). "Board Members". Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  8. ^ PS Media (2025). "About". Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  9. ^ Staff Reporter (25 May 2016). "MCF - 'MacroMelbourne Initiative'". Pro Bono Australia. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  10. ^ Mahlab, Karen (2025). "Volunteering". LinkedIn. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Caneva, Lina (11 October 2016). "Karen Mahlab Vic Finalist in Telstra Business Women's Awards". Pro Bono Australia. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  15. ^ Swinburne University of Technology (31 October 2017). "Social Innovation Research Institute appoints Advisory Committee Chair". Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  16. ^ Swinburne University of Technology (2025). "Social Innovation Research Institute". Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  17. ^ Victoria University - Cowen Centre (18 March 2019). "Cowen Centre welcomes Karen Mahlab AM as Chair". Retrieved 17 March 2025.
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