Ken Allen AO

Advance Global Australians Founder and Chair Emeritus
Global Australian Awards Judging Panel Chair (2012-2023)

In 2001, Ken was appointed Australia’s Consul General in New York and prior to returning to Sydney in 2006, he established Advance Global Australians in 2002. Originally called YAPA (Young Australian Professionals in America), Ken is credited with establishing the leading global network of Australians living overseas.

Awarded an Honours Degree in Economics, Ken joined Unilever and worked in Sydney and London in various marketing roles, before joining Slater Walker Australia. Ken started his banking career with the World Bank in Washington DC, later moving to New York with Merrill Lynch where he was responsible for establishing their investment bank in Australia, pre-empting his subsequent role with Lehman Brothers.

Ken was an Advisor to Lexington in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region (retired 2019), Chairman of Allen Partners, a leading international advisory and placement agent and the Chair Emeritus of Advance. He has served as Chairman of Talent2 and on the Boards of the NSW Treasury Corporation, the State Bank of New South Wales, the Film Finance Corporation of Australia, Omnicom, Australia Post and The China Institute in New York.

Ken became a Member of the Order of Australia in 2005 for service to the business and finance sectors, to international relations, and to the community through fundraising for charitable organisations.

In January 2021, he was awarded an Officer in the Order of Australia for distinguished service to international relations, particularly through global information sharing networks for expatriate Australian professionals.