Karen has a global track record in People and Culture Leadership across a diverse range of industries with roles involving significant change and transformation mandates. Karen leads the People and Performance team at Villa Maria where she has strategic responsibility for Health & Safety, Learning and Development, Leadership and Culture and Internal Communications. Prior to that Karen was a pivotal member of the Executive team at Public Trust where she was charged with leading the people agenda of a 4-year business transformation programme. Karen also spent 8 years working in key HR leadership roles in both NZ and Australia for Insurance Australia Group.
Karen holds a BSc (Hons) Psychology and a Masters in Human Resource Management from the United Kingdom. In 2012 she completed the prestigious NZ Global Woman Breakthrough leaders programme, and in 2011 was a winner of the HRINZ Young HR Professional of the Year Distinction Award.