Karen is the Chief Nurse and Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust. In her qualified nursing career, Karen has worked in a number of large and complex NHS organisations in London. She holds a diploma along with a BSc (hons) in Nursing and a MSc in advanced practice leadership from Kings College University. She is a graduate from the NHS Leadership Academy Senior Leaders and Nye Bevan programme for aspiring directors. Karen is a member of the Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) strategic advisory group and was highly commended by the Nursing Times in 2019 for her work in diversity and inclusion. She was recognised by the Health Service Journal (HSJ) October 2021 as one of the 50 most influential Black, Asian and minority ethnic people in health. The Burdett Trust for Nursing 20th Anniversary event held in June 2022 named Karen one of their Burdett Hero’s for her work with Helpforce, who facilitate volunteer services, in supporting and enabling the development of a series of interventions that benefitted nurses, patients, families and volunteers. In a capacity as a volunteer Karen works with the Prostate Cancer UK, to educate and raise awareness of the disease. She is also Trustee at Helpforce and a member of the Nurse Executive Council at the Beryl Institute whose work establishes a global community of practice on improving the patient experience. Karen is passionate and privileged to be a nurse.

Twitter: @karenabonner2