Karen is an experienced and effective communicator with a clear grasp of key drivers in both the public and private sectors. Karen’s role as Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland draws very much on her own background as an OCPAS Assessor and her specialist knowledge of human resources. Karen is experienced in operating at senior levels of business and government, while working with people at the ‘coal face’ of their organisations, assisting them to effect positive change.

Following a degree in languages, Karen completed post-graduate studies in human resource management and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Her early career in HR was spent in a variety of public and private sector organisations in the UK and Australia.

Karen established Investors in People Scotland (IIPS) on behalf of Scottish Enterprise and created the Investors in People assessment and recognition framework operating in Scotland today. After six years in this role, Karen moved onto a fresh challenge, directing the Scottish arm of the organisational development consultancy, McKechnies Limited. Karen then set up her own company, Carlton Edgar.

Prior to her appointment as Commissioner, Karen was an Independent Assessor of the public appointments process, operating under the auspices of the Scottish Executive. She is therefore well placed to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current appointments process and to develop a robust system for Scotland.

Karen’s role as Commissioner is part time. In addition, Karen is Deputy Chairman of the Broadcast Training and Skills Regulator, a company set up by Ofcom, UK television and radio broadcasters and Skillset (the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries) to work with broadcasters to ensure appropriate skills development across the industry. Karen also sits on the appointments panel for the BBC Audience Council in Scotland.

Karen’s remaining but meagre time is devoted to the somewhat more mundane but nevertheless satisfying role of making a new home in North Berwick and keeping her husband Bill (can’t cook, won’t cook), happy, hale and hearty. This involves learning to play golf, to keep him company on the many courses in East Lothian, and keeping him away from any attempts at DIY and decorating, for which Bill is apparently ill-equipped.