Before her appointment as Business Development Director at the NHS Confederation Karen was Acting Chief Operating Officer, on secondment from her role as Head of Employment Services for NHS Employers. Karen joined NHS Employers from Hinchingbrooke Healthcare NHS Trust, where she was acting deputy chief executive and director of performance and also an active member of the National Staff Council.

As an experienced HR Director she has delivered on many strategic projects within the NHS including Agenda for Change, whilst also leading her own trust to achieve Improving Working Lives Practice Plus. Karen worked at the NHS Pensions Agency to deliver a national project to encourage better promotion and use of the scheme within Improving Working Lives.

As part of the NHSE senior team she led and directed the work of the employment services function and has acted as a key representative with members and stakeholders driving forward NHS Employers’ employment services programme of work across the UK.

Karen is also a registered nurse and has worked as a full time officer working regionally and nationally for the Royal College of Nursing.