Karen Atkinson

Background

About Karen Atkinson

I have over 25 years experience in Infrastructure, including: dams and hydropower, water, energy & transport sectors as a Civil Engineer, Project Manager, Executive and Director. My career has spanned many roles leading multi-disciplinary teams, managing business units and overseeing organizational change. In my current role as Global Executive Director Dams & Hydropower, I am responsible for the growth of SMEC's founding service line, across Australasia, Asia, Africa & UK/Europe. Based in Jakarta, Indonesia, I travel frequently to our offices and projects around the world. I am a Board Member of the International Hydropower Association and am passionate about promoting the critical role of hydropower in the energy transition. As a Board Member for the SMEC Foundation, I provide governance over the charitable grants made by the Foundation to projects in the many developing nations that SMEC works in. I am also on the advisory Board of Partnerships4Infrastructure (P4I), an Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT) funded program in South East Asia. I graduated with a BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering with Architecture from the University of Leeds and hold a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Queensland. I enjoy taking on challenges and have a lifelong love for learning. As a frequent traveller for business and pleasure, I am a keen scuba diver, and am passionate about the energy transition, marine conservation and economic empowerment.