Speaker details

Biography

Karen Steidle graduated from Monash University, Melbourne, in1983 and joined IBM Australia in 1987 after three years in Intelligence with the Defence Department. She held a range of sales and marketing positions with IBM Australia/NZ, including Director of General Business, ibm.com and distribution channels. In 1996 Karen relocated to Tokyo as Vice President ibm.com responsible for establishing call centres and direct marketing across Asia Pacific, followed by Vice President Software Asia Pacific in 1998, a role which covered sales, marketing and business development for the IBM software portfolio. In 1999 Karen returned to Sydney as Vice President Systems Australia/NZ. In 2002 she relocated to London as Vice President Systems Marketing Europe Middle East and Africa, responsible for marketing, business development and distribution channels management for the IBM server and storage products. Karen was appointed Client Managing Director BP plc in October 2004, located in London, and in January 2009 she was appointed Client Managing Director BHP Billiton located in Singapore. Karen relocated back to London in April 2013 as Vice President Industries for the UK and Ireland. In 2016 she was appointed Client Managing Director for Royal Dutch Shell located in London and The Hague. In 2017 Karen became owner, board member and director for ‘Food For Thought’ health food business and a subsidiary production company ‘Bon Pom’.