Karen Mahlab Vic Finalist in Telstra Business Women’s Awards
11 October 2016 at 11:03 am
Pro Bono Australia founder Karen Mahlab AM has been named as a Victorian finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Awards for 2016 in the category of social purpose businesses.
Mahlab is among 29 Victorian finalists covering wide areas of endeavour including academics, holistic health professionals, digital technology specialists and for-purpose and social enterprise executives who have been nominated for making a difference to the community and their respective industries.
For the past 26 years, Mahlab has run successful, profitable, innovative social enterprises and businesses. She was awarded a Member in the Order of Australia (AM) in 2015 for her significant contribution to the not-for-profit sector and philanthropic initiatives.
In 1999, Mahlab established Pro Bono Australia to give a voice to the NFP sector delivering independent news, opinions, surveys, jobs, skilled-professional volunteer matching, webinars and podcasts to senior decision makers in the sector.
As the founder, Mahlab said she built the business from the ground up and under her direction it is now servicing one million people in Australia.
“It has since become the largest go-to online hub empowering the for-purpose sector,” Mahlab said.
“In these times of struggling media, we have created a unique, profitable, successful online business which gives voice to the values and concerns of people and organisations wanting to engage social change and make social connections. We activate good intentions.
“Twenty years ago I was a finalist in the Telstra Business Womens Awards for the Mahlab Group business and now I am very pleased to have been selected as a Victorian finalist for a social purpose business.”
Telstra Business Women’s Awards ambassador and chief marketing officer Joe Pollard said that Victorian women were changing business, one brilliant business woman at a time.
“Now in their 22nd year, the Telstra Business Women’s Awards champion women from diverse industries, ensuring their achievements are given the recognition they deserve, and continue to raise the profile of women in business,” Pollard said.
“The 2016 Telstra Victorian Business Women’s Awards finalists demonstrate the unique combination of skills required for professional excellence: the courage to take risks, sound financial management, strong leadership skills and, of course, sophisticated business acumen allowing them to thrive.”
There are six Telstra Business Women’s Awards categories in 2016: Entrepreneur, For Purpose and Social Enterprise, Public Sector and Academia, Corporate and Private, Young Business Women’s and, new in 2016, Business Woman in Asia.
“Telstra is a passionate advocate of women in business and we are thrilled to extend the Telstra Business Women’s Awards program into Asia this year to further recognise and reward the courage, leadership and creativity of brilliant business women,” Pollard said.
Winners of the 2016 Telstra Victorian Business Women’s Awards will be announced on Tuesday 18 October. State and territory category winners will gather in Melbourne for the National Awards judging on Wednesday 16 November 2016.
Show your support and send Karen Mahlab a message via the awards site here.
