Karen Hayes

After a highly successful corporate career, Karen Hayes has turned her impressive business skills to strengthening not-for-profit organisations. She was appointed as a Non-Executive Director to Multiple Sclerosis Limited in 2014.

Having several close friends living with MS, Karen is very committed to being able to draw on her extensive corporate and not-for profit expertise to support the great work done by MS, in making a difference in the lives of all those impacted. She is a great believer in the valuable role played by organisations such as MSL to assist people with chronic health conditions to lead fulfilling lives.

Karen was appointed as CEO of Guide Dogs Victoria in November 2011, after spending eight years as the Director, Corporate Engagement and Human Capital with UXC Limited, an ASX300 company and the largest Australian owned ICT Company in the country. She was previously CEO for Planpower, a dominant player in the project management and business consulting arena and one of 10 Business Units of the UXC Group.

Karen is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD). She is also a past finalist in the Telstra Business Woman of the Year Awards, was a founder and Board member of the Breast Cancer Network Australia until April 2013 and spent eight years as a Board member of the Melbourne Football Club from 2006 to 2013. She is currently a Board member of Vision 2020 Australia and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Karen was also inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women, in 2017, in recognition of her extensive business and community contribution.