Carmen Garcia

Carmen Garcia

Founder and CEO of Community Corporate

Carmen Garcia AM is the CEO and Founder of national award-winning diversity and inclusion certified social enterprise, Community Corporate. Operating in the niche space of corporate social responsibility, she specialises in cultural inclusion. She is widely recognised as a leading expert, creating economic and social impact solutions through partnerships with the corporate sector that maximise employment and skilling opportunities for refugees and migrants. Carmen was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2024 Australia Day Honours List for her significant service to the multicultural community through diversity and inclusion advocacy and programs.

This female social entrepreneur brings over 20 years’ experience working in refugee resettlement, migration, community development, training and workforce strategy across the public, private and community sectors. Carmen is currently appointed as a member of the Federal Government’s Australian Multicultural Council, and a Board Member of the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority. She is a Commissioner on the SA State Government’s South Australian Multicultural Commission and the Co-Convenor and long-term judge of the Solstice Media 40 Under 40 Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs Alumni, since winning the inaugural 40 Under 40 award in 2018 for State contribution.

In 2022, she co-authored “Social Impact Investment: An Australian Perspective” published by Routledge. Carmen was listed on the 2023 Women’s Honour Roll in SA, and received the Women in Innovation Award for Social Impact (2021), SA Governor’s Multicultural Award for Individual Outstanding Achievement (2020) and was listed as one of the Top 50 Small Business Leaders in Australia by Inside Business (2021). Community Corporate won National Social Enterprise of the Year at the Australian Small Business Champions Awards (2021) in the first year social enterprise was recognised in these awards.

She has an MBA and a Bachelor of Arts Degree (International Studies: Public Policy and Languages).