Key People
Women & Leadership Australia is supported by a dedicated and passionate team of leadership experts. Coming from a wide range of experiences and backgrounds, the team has deep knowledge of current and emerging leadership trends, research and best practice. A number of key individuals are included below.
Karen Surmon
General Manager, Women & Leadership Australia
Appointed as General Manager of Women & Leadership Australia in 2024, Karen is a dynamic and strategic leader with over 15 years of experience across senior roles in government, the private sector, and not-for-profit organisations. She brings extensive expertise across a range of industries.
Karen’s career began in education, then business consulting before she transitioned to the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade). She has successfully led culturally diverse, geographically dispersed teams across Greater China, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Her work has driven impactful outcomes in sectors including education, technology, consumer goods, and agribusiness.
A passionate advocate for women’s advancement, Karen has made it her mission to foster opportunities for professional development and mentorship. She has held roles on Women in Leadership Committees at the Australia-Shanghai and Australia-Thailand Chambers of Commerce and co-founded ‘Walk the Talk,’ a mentoring program empowering young women.
Karen’s commitment to diversity and inclusion also extends beyond the workplace, including her service on the board of Koorana Gymnastics Club, where she advocates for inclusion, resilience, and growth, particularly for the young women who make up most of the club’s 1200-strong membership.
Karen’s career began in education, then business consulting before she transitioned to the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade). She has successfully led culturally diverse, geographically dispersed teams across Greater China, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Her work has driven impactful outcomes in sectors including education, technology, consumer goods, and agribusiness.
A passionate advocate for women’s advancement, Karen has made it her mission to foster opportunities for professional development and mentorship. She has held roles on Women in Leadership Committees at the Australia-Shanghai and Australia-Thailand Chambers of Commerce and co-founded ‘Walk the Talk,’ a mentoring program empowering young women.
Karen’s commitment to diversity and inclusion also extends beyond the workplace, including her service on the board of Koorana Gymnastics Club, where she advocates for inclusion, resilience, and growth, particularly for the young women who make up most of the club’s 1200-strong membership.
