Karen has worked in the energy sector for nearly 25 years, focusing on strategic management, business operations, quality and customer delivery. She serves as Chief Operating Officer (COO), responsible for the following companies: Atlantic XL, Additive XL and iEAS XL in Canada, and Caribbean XL in Guyana. Karen is also part of the management team of XL Global Group in Aberdeen, UK.
Under her leadership, there has been an evolution in the businesses she manages, with a focus on clean energy, innovation, and continuous improvement. In 2023, Additive XL was recognized with the province’s first commercially available 3D metal printer. This achievement supports Karen’s passion to be part of clean innovation and growth, as well as decreasing carbon emissions along the Additive Manufacturing journey.
Karen has worked on several boards. In 2022, she finished her tenure with EnergyNL where she served four years as director and three years on Executive as Vice Chair, Chair and Past Chair. During that time, the board worked with management to grow the organization, moving it from an oil and gas focus when it was Noia, to a larger energy mandate as it moved to EnergyNL. In 2021, Karen was Co-Chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Oil and Gas Industry Task Force, which was mandated to review ways to innovate the industry, as well as create an energy transition roadmap. She is also part of the 2025 Canada Games Governance Committee, and recently finished her term with the Janeway Children’s Hospital Foundation board. In February 2024, she was also successful in becoming director on the St. John’s Board of Trade.
Through these varied board experiences, she has had opportunity to participate and affect change through regulatory and policy discussions.
Karen graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Strategic Management program at Oslo’s Norwegian School of Management. Most recently, she completed the Directors Education Program at the Institute of Corporate Directors, also obtaining her Director designation.
Through her current role, she has continued to grow her relationship with local post-secondary institutions and high schools. Karen’s goal is to further develop the local market in Additive Manufacturing through work terms, hands on exposure, and educational seminars.
Karen has been recognized for her efforts as Energy NL’s 2014 first Rising Star, profiled in OGM and Memorial University’s Up and Coming, and several years running has been nominated for the RBC Women of Influence.