Karen has extensive experience as a senior leader in the public and private sector. Having begun her career in a number of fast-moving business to business sectors, she became a director of a growing private business in Derby until the birth of her son in 1995.

After a short career break, she returned to work as a Business Adviser working with high potential SME business owners helping them to optimise their plans for growth. Her career in the post-16 skills sector began with the post of Regional Director for Ufi learndirect – the government’s flagship online learning platform – and then joined the Learning and Skills Council as Policy Director in 2007.

Karen has served in a number of senior civil service roles, notably as the Territorial Director for Further Education provision with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (part of the Department for Education) and currently as the national policy lead for Quality in Apprenticeships. She has a thorough knowledge of the education sector and its actors, and extensive experience of leading diverse and dispersed teams. Her time with the ESFA has included supporting a considerable number of colleges in difficulty and facing the need for change, whether it be structural, financial or cultural.

Born and brought up in Nottinghamshire, Karen now lives just outside Melton Mowbray with her husband, daughter and four dogs. Both her children have thoroughly enjoyed their time at Melton Vale Sixth Form College (a Nova Education Trust college) studying A-Levels. Her youngest daughter is currently studying in Year 12 and her son is thriving in his career as a chef in Nottingham.