Karen is an English qualified solicitor and experienced Senior Executive with over 20 years of international experience with large companies in the Professional Services, Energy and Aviation sectors.
Karen joined the Executive Team of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) from Air New Zealand on 1 April 2019 in the global role of Corporate Secretary. Karen is based in Geneva, Switzerland and is responsible for supporting the IATA Board and Management on all governance and corporate secretariat matters and implementing the Association’s new corporate strategy. While at Air New Zealand, Karen served in the dual role of General Counsel and Company Secretary, supporting the Board, Executive and various teams across the airline on a wide range of strategic legal, risk, privacy, compliance and governance issues, most recently leading the development of the airline’s strategic risk and global privacy programmes. Prior to Air New Zealand Karen spent just under 2 year as Mercury NZ’s General Counsel.
Prior to arriving in New Zealand in 2014, Karen was UK General Counsel & Company Secretary for National Grid plc, a UK FTSE 20 and US NYSE listed international gas and electricity company, where she led a team of lawyers, risk, ethics and other assurance professionals and was an influential member of the company’s UK Executive Leadership team.
During her career, Karen has worked as a commercial litigator in top tier law firms in both the UK and Australia and is a regular speaker at events on legal, leadership and diversity topics.
Outside of work, Karen is mum to 2 young but rapidly growing children, 2 Golden Retrievers and a rescue cat and when there’s time is a keen gym goer and paddle boarder.
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