Karen is the Executive Director of SAEOPA (Southern African Essential Oil Producer Association), and has been involved in many industry studies in the field of essential oils since 2000. She has lectured at various universities in subjects Botany, Bio-entrepreneurship, Biotechnology and Environmental Science. Karen has presented papers at IPUF (Indigenous Plant use Forum) since 2000 and on international level at WOCMAP (World Congress on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants), ISEO (International Society of Essential Oils) , ASNAPP (Agribusiness in Sustainable Natural African Plant Product), Green Gold, SAAB (South African Association of Botanists) , African Corp Science, Agricultural and Training World Conference, CHEMRAWN (Committee on Chemical Research Applied to World Needs), Industrial Crops and Rural Enterprises. She has also contributed to publications for the Department of Trade and Industry, Agriculture and Forestry and Acta Horticulturae.
