Karen Grogan

Karen Grogan (born 25 June 1967) is an Australian politician and trade unionist who has served as a Senator for South Australia since September 2021. Throughout her career, she has worked across various sectors, including education, mental health, the environment, social and community services, and Aboriginal issues.

Early life and education

Karen Grogan was born on 25 June 1967 in London, England, into a large Irish Catholic family in south-west London. She grew up on a housing estate near the World's End, shaped by the values of her parents—her father, Larry, a shop steward with the Transport and General Workers' Union, introduced her to the Labour movement and the power of collective action, while her mother, Kathleen, instilled in her a strong sense of community and unwavering personal support. These early influences laid the foundation for her lifelong commitment to social and economic justice.

In 1990, Grogan moved to Australia, travelling across the country and working in a range of jobs. Four years later, now an Australian citizen, her life took a dramatic turn when her unborn child became seriously ill, her partner left, and she lost her job. With no family nearby, she relied on the support of friends, Medicare, and the social welfare system. This period of hardship deepened her resolve to fight for a fairer society. She served as the national political coordinator for the United Workers Union from August 2019 to September 2021 and became a member of the ALP National Executive in 2021. On 21 September 2021, Grogan was appointed by the Parliament of South Australia under section 15 of the Constitution to represent the state in the Senate, following the death of Alex Gallacher. She later became the Government Deputy Whip in the Senate on 18 March 2024.