Carol Schwartz AO

Chair

Carol Schwartz is one of Australia's leading business identities. Carol has extensive experience in business, property, the arts, community organizations and has been a director on a large number of public company and government boards.

Carol is a Member of the Reserve Bank of Australia Board. She is also Chair of Our Community and Founding Chair of the Women's Leadership Institute Australia. Carol is convenor of the Property Male Champions of Change group. Carol's company directorships include the Reserve Bank of Australia, Qualitas Property Partners and the Trawalla Group. She is also an Executive in Residence at Melbourne Business School, a council member of the Australian Innovation Research Centre, University of Tasmania, board member Centre for Advanced Journalism, University of Melbourne, member of the Enterprise Melbourne Advisory Board, and member Harvard Kennedy School's Women's Leadership Board.

Carol has been named Change Champion of the Year at the NAB Women's Agenda Leadership Awards. Carol was President of the Melbourne International Arts Festival between 2005-2009. Other previous roles include Deputy Chair of the Australian Women Donors Network, Chair of Industry Superannuation Property Trust (ISPT), Chair Creative Partnerships Australia and National President of the Property Council of Australia.

Carol was named as an Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia in 2019 for distinguished service to the community as a supporter of women in leadership roles, to social justice advocacy, and to business, having previously been awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (2006). Carol also received the Centenary Medal in 2001 in recognition of her outstanding service as a leading business executive and board participant, and a Monash University Fellowship in 2010 in recognition of her significant contribution to the community through her professional distinction and outstanding service as a member of the alumni. In March 2011 Carol was inducted into the 2011 Victorian Women's Honour Roll.

Together with her husband Alan and four children, Carol established the Trawalla Foundation. The Trawalla Foundation invests in social enterprises and opportunities that focus on arts, ideas, innovation and scholarship.

Carol is passionate about social change, having founded the Trawalla Foundation, a social investment body, as well as the Women's Leadership Institute Australia, which is working to radically boost the number of women in leadership positions in Australia.