Ms Karen Williams

Biography

Karen has been a member of the HM Diplomatic Service since April 1987. Her early career was spent in the Secretarial Branch with postings to Riyadh, UK Mission to UN in New York and world-wide floater duties. She was promoted to the mainstream in 1995. First as Fast Stream Recruitment Officer, followed by postings to Burma in 1999 (Vice Consul and Head Corporate Services) and Lebanon 2002 (Head UK Trade and Investment). In 2005 Karen headed up the FCO’s Travel Advice Unit before moving in 2007 to become Management Reviewer for the Americas Command. In 2009 she was posted to Jamaica as Head of Corporate Services. Before rejoining UK Trade & Investment in 2012 Karen volunteered as Visits Officer with Protocol Department to assist with the visiting VIP delegations to the London Olympics. Karen joined the Commercial Section in Dubai in August 2012 as Deputy Director, UKTI.

Prior to her career in the Civil Service, Karen worked for the Kuwait Hilton International Hotel, BBC (Radio Times and ‘Breakfast Time‘ Television) and a number of temporary assignments in the City of London, including Credit Suisse First Boston and 3i Venture Capital.