Carmen Garcia

CEO/ Managing Director at Community Corporate I Diversity & Inclusion Warrior I Social Impact Innovator I Entrepreneur I Top 50 Small Business Leaders 2021 I 40U40 Alumni I SASEC Board Member

Carmen Garcia is the CEO and Founder of Community Corporate Pty Ltd, a national award-winning social enterprise based in Australia that focuses on diversity and inclusion. Established in 2013 and incorporated as a proprietary limited company in 2016, Community Corporate specializes in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and aims to improve employment opportunities for refugees and migrants. Under her leadership, the organization has received several accolades, including the National Social Enterprise of the Year at the Australian Small Business Champions Awards in 2020.1 2 4

Background and Experience

Carmen has over 20 years of experience in refugee resettlement, community development, and workforce strategy across various sectors. She has held significant roles including CEO of Multicultural Youth South Australia and Chief Strategy Officer at Access Community Services Ltd. Her work is driven by personal experience; her mother, a migrant from the Philippines, faced challenges in pursuing her professional career due to unrecognized overseas qualifications, which inspired Carmen's commitment to improving employment outcomes for marginalized communities.1 2 5

Achievements

In recognition of her contributions to diversity and inclusion, Carmen was appointed as the Honorary Consul for the Philippines in South Australia in April 2022. She has also been honored with several awards, including:

Women in Innovation Award for Social Impact (2021)
Top 50 Small Business Leaders (2021)
Member of the Order of Australia (2024) for her service to multicultural communities.1 2 3

Education

Carmen holds an MBA from the Australian Institute of Business, a Bachelor’s degree in Arts focusing on public policy and international relations from the University of South Australia, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Management from RMIT University.1 2

Vision

Carmen is known as a "Diversity and Inclusion Warrior" and aims to challenge conventional recruitment processes to unlock the potential of refugees and migrants. Her mantra, "work lies at the core of human dignity," reflects her belief that employment is essential for personal dignity and social integration.1 3 4