Karen has over 20 years experience in local government, starting her career in community sport development. During this time Karen established herself as a creative and innovative leader, with a successful track record of setting up and sustaining a number of locality sports projects. 

She has a proven track record in strategic thinking, multi partnership working, event management and fund raising. Karen has been a national advisor to Sport Englands Task Group for Women in Sport, co-ordinated delivery of the 2001 World Half Marathon Championships in Bristol and been a member of the south west region Equality in Sport Forum. 

Karen managed her own sport and health consultancy company before taking up a ground breaking new role as Active Ageing Manager for the West of England. She is passionate about how the power of sport and positive activities can impact on social, health and economic inequalities in our most disadvantaged communities.