Karen is currently the CEO of Venture Housing in the NT. Karen’s 35-year career spans the UK and Australia, in Government, corporate and non-government sectors -  in executive roles driving strategy, policy and housing reform and growth in Aboriginal, public and community housing. She was also CEO of NSW Shelter where she was a founding member of “The Good Growth Alliance”.Karen’s 35-year career spans the UK and Australia, in Government, corporate and non-government sectors -  in executive roles driving strategy, policy and housing reform and growth in Aboriginal, public and community housing. She was also CEO of NSW Shelter where she was a founding member of “The Good Growth Alliance”.

For seven years at SGCH Karen led the contract and tenancy management of Australia’s first Social housing PPP in Bonnyrigg, as well as leading urban regeneration and place-making partnerships across the portfolio of 4,000 managed and owned affordable homes. Karen successfully led the Group’s innovation and business initiatives and bids, as well as its strategic asset portfolio and social impact frameworks. 

Karen is committed to achieving impact through collaborations, leadership and harnessing the strengths of social purpose and commercial disciplines. She has been instrumental in influencing, leading, and delivering reform and growth initiatives in the Aboriginal and community housing sectors since 2005 in NSW and 2019 in the NT, and since 2021 led the collaboration to establish a Community Housing Industry Association NT branch.

In 2019 Karen moved to an Exec role in NT Government where she led the community housing growth reform, homelessness services, urban planning and new supply, and drove innovative housing services and programs. In 2021 Karen joined Venture Housing as the CEO and has focussed on the organisation’s growth strategy and vision since.   

Karen holds two Masters Degrees - Social Policy; and an Executive Masters, Public Administration, ANZSOG; is a GAICD;  and an Honorary Associate of the UTS Institute of Public Policy and Governance. Karen is committed to excellence in governance and has served on many Boards, including national peak and industry bodies and currently Chair of CHIA NT and a Director of CHIA; My Foundations Youth Housing; and UDIA NT.

You can view Karen's LinkedIn profile here