Karen has been the Chief Executive of Wellington Zoo since 2006 and is a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit MNZM for services to Business and Animal Welfare. Karen is the current President of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). Karen previously chaired the WAZA Ethics and Animal Welfare Committee and WAZA the Environmental Sustainability Sub Committee where she was the editor of the Protecting Our Planet global strategy, the Carbon Reduction Guide and the Sustainable Forest Use Guide ad a reviewer of the Reverse the Red Guide. She has also been the President of the Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia. Wellington Zoo was the first Toitū carbon zero certified zoo in the world and won the WAZA inaugural Environmental Sustainability Award in 2018. Karen won the 2009 HER Business Wellington award for outstanding business leadership and sustainability and the 2010 HER Business NZ National award for outstanding business leadership. Karen was 2010 Wellingtonian of the Year in the Environment category. Karen was a finalist in both the 2014 and 2015 Westpac/Fairfax Media NZ Women of Influence Awards in the Social Enterprise category and the Board and Management category respectively.