Karen Walsh is a highly respected executive leader and management consultant with over 35 years’ experience in Australia’s housing, homelessness, and human services sectors. Renowned for strategic vision and a commitment to social justice, Karen Walsh has shaped national and state housing and homelessness policies and programs, championed sector-wide housing and SHS reform, including significant advances in Aboriginal sector reform and strategy, and pioneered sustainable housing solutions with lasting social and economic impact. Her leadership includes CEO roles at Venture Housing, NSW Shelter, and interim CEO at National Shelter and CHIA, where she delivered scalable models for social and affordable housing and drove systemic reforms for fairer housing systems.

At SGCH and Venture Housing, Karen Walsh led significant portfolio and business growth and introduced innovations such as the Sustainable Tenancies Framework and targeted housing first approaches. She has led major urban renewal projects, including Australia’s first large-scale social housing PPP, and led development of Sydney’s Common Ground Project and SGCH’ Youth Foyer social impact investment model. In the Northern Territory, she spearheaded the Government’s inaugural Community Housing Growth Strategy, established a peak industry body for community housing, and contributed to Aboriginal housing policy development and reform. Currently, she is a housing management consultant and part time Deputy CEO of Head Start Homes. Karen Walsh holds dual master’s degrees, is an Honorary Fellow at UTS, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), recognised nationally for leadership and sector reform.