Karen Calwell, Head of Training, Development and Member Engagement, St John Ambulance Victoria

Karen Calwell's connection with St John Ambulance Victoria (SJAV) began as a teenager, where she developed a passion for first aid, leadership, and community service through volunteering, training programs, and member activities. Those early experiences inspired a lifelong commitment to healthcare, education, and helping others.

A registered nurse with extensive experience across public, private, rural, and not-for-profit healthcare settings, Karen has worked in clinical care, leadership, education, workforce development, organ and tissue donation services, and regional health coordination. She holds a Master of Business Administration, along with postgraduate qualifications in emergency nursing and spinal cord injury nursing.

Karen returned to SJAV five and a half years ago as both a volunteer and staff member. Since then, she has held several senior leadership roles, including Training and Development Manager and Acting General Manager, before commencing her current role as Head of Training, Development and Member Engagement. In this role, she leads initiatives focused on volunteer development, training, member engagement, and building a future-ready volunteer workforce.

Passionate about developing people and creating meaningful volunteer experiences, Karen believes education and empowerment are key to strengthening communities and achieving positive outcomes. She is proud to give back to the organisation that helped shape her formative years and remains committed to supporting the next generation of volunteers and leaders.

Outside of work, Karen lives in Inverloch with her husband and enjoys travel, camping, bushwalking, swimming, pickleball, and spending time on the local beaches, which she describes as her happy place.