 Karen lives in Muswell Hill and has been an active member of the Labour Party for over 25 years. She is a qualified nurse and practised in the NHS for ten years before becoming a researcher for Kent County Council.
Karen’s knowledge and understanding of the NHS is extensive. She now heads UNISON’s Health Group policy and is a recognised authority in the field. As National Secretary (Health) for UNISON she has been elected to chair the most senior negotiating committee in the NHS representing 1.3 million health workers.
Alongside her NHS and trade union career she has also developed a strong interest and passion for international affairs, particularly international health issues. Karen now chairs the Global Health Taskforce for Public Services International. This work takes her to some of the poorest countries in the world to support campaigning work on HIV & AIDS. Her recent trip to Malawi with Oxfam provided testimony material which was taken to the 2007 G8 Summit in June.
She has two grown up children and, having spent years as a working single mum herself, she understands the pressures of balancing work and family life and the stresses and strains modern families have to bear.
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