Director and DIB Sponsor

Karen has spent over 30 years with HLM, joining the board in 2000, being appointed as Managing Director from 2017 until 2024 and remains a key member of the HLM Board. .

Karen is passionate about creating an inclusive and inquisitive learning environment; helping every single person to flourish, achieve their personal goals and feel valued and supported. She’s responsible for leading diversity and inclusion policies, driving a culture of equality throughout the business and is the Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Lead.

Karen’s commitment to the development of others led her to design the HLM Academy, a personal and professional development framework helping everyone to reach their full potential.

Karen is part of the RIBA Future Leaders Steering Group, and contributor to national media and broadcasts on the subject of gender balance and inclusion. She was also part of the Trailblazer Group which developed two Architectural Apprenticeship Standards providing a long-awaited, more diverse route of entry into our profession. In 2017, Karen was shortlisted for Building Magazine’s Women of the Year award, and featured in the Women in Real Estate List 2019.

In 2021, Karen took up her post as President for Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, and won two Institute of Directors awards for Yorkshire and the North East in the categories of ‘Small to Medium Business’, and ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’.

In 2022, she won the Construction News and New Civil Engineer Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering award for ‘Inspirational Leadership’, and the Construction News Workforce award for ‘Inspiring Women in Construction’.

RIBA Future Leaders 2022: Leading Teams – YouTube

Did you know?
Karen started working for HLM on a Youth Training Scheme at the age of 17 and uses her experience of working her way from apprentice to Managing Director to inspire others.  She’s married to Andy, has one daughter Holly, and a cheeky puppy named Frank!

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