“ UTS gave me the legal grounding in innovation to pursue a career focused on social impact, solving old problems with new approaches. It was the beginning of a journey that led Global Sisters to lift up thousands of Australian women on their journeys to achieve financial independence and economic security through entrepreneurship.”
Mandy Richards
UTS Chancellor's Award for Excellence and Community Award 2025
At a glance
- Founder of Global Sisters advancing women’s economic independence.
- Supported 8,000+ Australian women into self-employment.
- Drives welfare reform through inclusive self-employment systems.
- Internationally recognised social innovator and sector-leading CEO.
Mandy Richards studied Graduate Certificate in Trade Mark Law and Practice, 2004
Mandy Richards is a visionary social entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of Global Sisters, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to helping women achieve economic security through financial independence via self-employment and the leveraging of income to achieve economic assets. Her career spans leadership roles in social ventures and international development, with a focus on gender equity, human rights, and poverty eradication.
Since founding Global Sisters in 2016, Mandy has supported over 8,000 Australian women—many of whom are single mothers, women with disabilities, refugees, or survivors of domestic violence—to build viable micro-businesses and move toward economic independence. Through free online education and wraparound business support and a vibrant community, Global Sisters has become a transformative force in women's entrepreneurship.
Mandy’s leadership is driving national systems reform. Global Sisters is two years into demonstration projects supporting solo mums and women living with disabilities to transition off income support and into sustainable self-employment. In the next six months Global Sisters will launch an innovative housing ownership pilot for women on minimum wage and social security. Her work challenges outdated welfare policies and advocates for inclusive economic systems.
Her impact has garnered international recognition. In 2024, Mandy presented Global Sisters’ award-winning Impact Roadmap© at APEC, and the organisation received a $500,000 grant from the Citi Foundation’s Global Innovation Challenge to address homelessness. She also launched Sister Pitch, connecting women entrepreneurs with major brands and facilitating over $1 million in business opportunities in 2024 alone. $10 million of expert pro bono business support has been facilitated for emerging women-led micro businesses in Australia.
Mandy’s achievements have been recognised through numerous accolades, including being named the top Innovator in Pro Bono Australia’s Impact 25 Awards, serving as a coach for the Cartier Women’s Initiative and being named 2025 CEO of the Year in the Third Sector Awards. Her work continues to empower women from diverse and marginalised backgrounds across Australia.
Explore
UTS School of Design graduates Bec Cooper and Bridget Yorsten established their eponymous label Bec + Bridge almost two decades ago in 2001, while they were still students.
Hugh Jackman completed a Bachelor of Arts in Communications at UTS. He says "My passion and fire for learning was lit at UTS"
Dr Anna Funder gained her Doctorate of Creative Arts at UTS. Her best-selling novel All that I Am, was born in the UTS Tower.
While you may have heard of her inclusive performance style, ongoing charity advocacy (and maybe even her 2020 UTS Young Alumni Award), most people don’t know that Emma is also a skilled filmmaker – having graduated from UTS with a Master of Media Arts Production in 2012.
UTS School of Design graduates Bec Cooper and Bridget Yorsten established their eponymous label Bec + Bridge almost two decades ago in 2001, while they were still students.
Hugh Jackman completed a Bachelor of Arts in Communications at UTS. He says "My passion and fire for learning was lit at UTS"
Dr Anna Funder gained her Doctorate of Creative Arts at UTS. Her best-selling novel All that I Am, was born in the UTS Tower.
While you may have heard of her inclusive performance style, ongoing charity advocacy (and maybe even her 2020 UTS Young Alumni Award), most people don’t know that Emma is also a skilled filmmaker – having graduated from UTS with a Master of Media Arts Production in 2012.