Our CEO
From 2021 to 2024 as CEO, Karen led the significant growth and transformation of Venture Housing, a Tier 1 provider in the NT. Karen’s 35-year career spans the UK and Australia, in Government, corporate and non-government sectors – in executive roles driving strategy, policy and housing reform and growth in Aboriginal, public and community housing. She was also CEO of NSW Shelter where she was a founding member of “The Good Growth Alliance”.
Karen is committed to achieving impact through collaborations, leadership and harnessing the strengths of social purpose and commercial disciplines. She has been instrumental in influencing, leading, and delivering reform and growth initiatives in the Aboriginal and community housing sectors since 2005 in NSW and 2019 in the NT, and since 2021 led the collaboration to establish a Community Housing Industry Association NT branch.
Karen holds two Masters Degrees – Social Policy; and an Executive Masters, Public Administration, ANZSOG; is a GAICD; and an Honorary Associate of the UTS Institute of Public Policy and Governance. Karen is committed to excellence in governance and has served on many Boards, including national peak and industry bodies.
You can view Karen’s LinkedIn profile here
Safety and Security
for People on Low
Incomes
National Shelter is a non-government peak organisation that aims to improve housing access, affordability, appropriateness, safety and security for people on low incomes. Since 1976, National Shelter has worked towards this goal by influencing government policy and action, and by raising public awareness about housing issues. National Shelter’s aim is to work towards every Australian having access to housing that is:
Affordable
People should not be left in poverty after they have met their housing costs
Adequate
Everybody is entitled to housing that meets basic standards of decency and their own basic needs
Secure
People should not live under threat of loss of home and shelter
Accessible
Access to housing should be free from discrimination
In the right place
Housing should be located close to transport, services and support networks, job opportunities, and social and leisure activities
Meet their lifecycle needs
People have different housing needs at different stages of their lives, and housing should be available to meet these changing needs
We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures and to their elders past and present. Disclaimer: This website may contain images or names of people who have since passed away. Please contact us if you have concerns with any material on this website.