2024 ABIA Humanitarian of the Year Karla McDiarmid

In 2019, following in the footsteps of the AHIA’s (Australian Hair Industry Awards) a new category was announced for the ABIA’s to celebrate the incredible philanthropic work carried out by individuals within the Beauty and Aesthetic Industry.

Announcing this year’s recipient, Kellie Woodhead, Art Director of the mocha group, took to the stage to announce this year’s recipient and introduce a special video tribute to Karla McDiarmid, owner of Macquarie MediSpa sponsored by

As an unsung hero, Karla is a contributor and participant in many local and national charities from working with the homeless, hospitals, animals and to sponsoring endless local events and fundraisers.

Her business Macquarie Medispa sponsors more than 70 charities and 15 local schools throughout the year including Ronald McDonald House, Relay For Life Cancer Fundraiser, Housing Plus, Share the Dignity, Lions Club and Triple MMM Orange ‘Give Me 5 For Kids’.

She donates endless amounts of treatments and product hampers to charities and turned her entire salon pink to celebrate the launch of the Barbie movie, creating awareness for Breast checks.

Karla took part in the Ronald McDonald House CEO Walk In My Shoes Fund Raiser and even did Time4Kids raising funds for the PCYC to help keep youth off the street.

Her Pay it Forward Fridays are a huge success allowing clients to nominate someone in need, to receive a complimentary treatment and she is a major supporter and volunteer organizer of the Bathurst Cup encouraging sponsors for Fashions on the Field.

Karla has also completed her Lifeline crisis supporter training and as part of International Nurses Week, donated skincare packs to nurses in Bathurst and Orange.

Hosting VIP charity nights for clients is a regular occurrence as well as attending local schools to educate teens about skin health and makeup application.

She works very closely with Headspace to help mental health and supports several female entrepreneurs through Financial Independence Through Entrepreneurship charities.

Teaching facial acupressure & hand reflexology to carers in her spare time, she has created an emergency care kit to keep in your car to help with injured wombats! Something that certainly struck a chord with Circadia founder Michael Pugliese, who while presenting on stage later in the night donated $10,000 to help Karla and her beloved wombats!

As well as an award-winning and much respected Medispa owner, she is an unheralded philanthropist, and we congratulate the 2024 ABIA Humanitarian of the Year – Karla McDiarmid