Karen is a business development consultant working across architecture, design, engineering and construction. Her career began in architecture, where she worked closely with architects and interior designers on pitches, presentations and client-facing material. That early experience gave her a lasting understanding of how creative practices think, communicate and win work.

Over the past 20 years, Karen has specialised in business development for the built environment, helping practices build stronger client relationships, create clearer BD strategies and develop more confident internal approaches to winning work. Through Always Thinking, which she runs alongside Katie Tobin, she works with studios and consultancies to make business development feel more focused, practical and relevant to creative businesses.

Karen co-leads the Festival of Hospitality with Katie, shaping its vision, themes, content and industry relationships. The Festival is growing into a leading event for the hospitality community, with a year-long series of events celebrating the UK hospitality sector and bringing together the people shaping its future.