Born in the north of England Karen came to Australia as a ten pound Pom.

Karen remembers that her school reports mentioned that she talked too much in class, really.

Studying German, French and Japanese at school certainly came in useful in her later corporate life.

Following high school Karen went to Ryde Catering College with the goal of becoming the GM of a five star hotel.

A year of travel then a job at the Sebel Town House in the days when it was the place where visiting musicians and celebs stayed and where she met the likes of David Bowie and Mel Gibson. Yes there are stories.

From hotels Karen went to Staging Connections then the RAS of NSW and then onto Melbourne to head up the Melbourne Convention Bureau.

Those who know Karen will know she can be something of a performer – so of course we had to discuss that.