We’re delighted to announce Karen Surmon as the new General Manager of Women & Leadership New Zealand and Women & Leadership Australia. With over two decades of leadership experience and a deep commitment to inclusion and the advancement of women, Karen brings a dynamic perspective that we are confident will further strengthen our community and impact.
Karen’s leadership philosophy has been profoundly shaped by her experience living and working abroad, and the strong women in her life, including her “formidable grandma and mum”, who instilled a lifelong passion for empowering women, as well as her twin sister and two daughters. This personal and professional commitment drives her work as she steps into her new role.
I’m excited to join Women & Leadership Australia at such a pivotal time. We know there are social, cultural, and economic benefits to embracing organisational diversity, including having more women in leadership roles. While we’ve made significant strides, we still need to be deliberate in our efforts to achieve gender equity and greater diversity in leadership. I look forward to working with industry, government, schools, and individuals to deliver impactful programs and events that will drive positive change, and support women at every stage of their leadership journey.
Karen Surmon
Karen’s professional journey began in education, later transitioning to the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), where she served in key leadership roles, including postings in China and Thailand, for over a decade. Karen’s dedication to supporting women has been a hallmark throughout her career. From her involvement in Women in Leadership Committees at the Australia-Shanghai and Australia-Thailand Chambers of Commerce, to co-founding the mentoring program ‘Walk the Talk’, she has consistently created opportunities for professional development and peer support for young women.
Under Karen’s guidance through this next growth phase, we look forward to expanding our impact to champion equity and empower leaders at all levels.
A Special Thank You to Megan Ibrahim
We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Megan Ibrahim, who has served as Acting General Manager over the past six months. Megan’s leadership has been integral to our continued success, and her unwavering dedication has ensured that our operations ran smoothly during this period.
Megan will now resume her previous role as Director of Operations, where she will continue to lead our team in achieving operational excellence. We’re grateful for her ongoing contributions and look forward to her continued leadership in this vital capacity.