Karen Beard-Greer

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT KAREN BEARD-GREER

I am the CEO of the Independent Living Charitable Trust a community owned organisation that has transitioned from a small not for profit organisation to a formidable social enterprise. ILCT provides a range of disability services and independent living solutions across NZ including retail and wholesale solutions from local suppliers and direct importing, to contracts with government to provide information services and assistive technology to MOH and ACC. In 2018 we launched Hubscrub in Australasia to address infection control within our sector I am a commercially-savvy executive leader with extensive leadership, operational management and people H&S experience, and a background in the aviation industry. I have a track record of leading complex transformational change, delivering commercial success and managing significant contracts funded through the public and private sectors. Expertise extends to delivering strategic and governance oversight, leading operational teams, implementing H&S plans, executing sustainability initiatives, responding to complex challenges. I am a practical and hands-on professional with an energetic approach to inspiring a wide range of stakeholders and driving success. I hold a range of Governance roles. I am an Independent Director of Manawanui Support Ltd (NZ\'s lead host provider for Self Directed Funding), International Organising Committee Member for CREATE Asia (Coalition of Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology for Asia Pacific, and have recently completed a 9 year term as Executive Committee Member of the NZ Federation of Disability Information Centres. I started out as an Air Traffic Controller which has laid a foundation of transferable skills that positively impact my performance: I am highly adaptable, decisive, a practical, creative problem solver. Critical thinking skills have lead me to be highly intuitive with good strategic oversight. I am calm under pressure, resilient and comfortable with an ever changing landscape.