Karen Atkinson is the Global Executive Director for Dams & Hydropower at SMEC, a member of the Surbana Jurong Group, with over 25 years of leadership and engineering experience spanning the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Asia. From a civil engineering background, Karen has led high-impact energy and infrastructure initiatives across continents.

She joined SMEC in 2015 and prior to her current role was the Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Southeast Asia, reflecting her deep regional expertise and ability to drive complex, cross-border projects. She is currently based in Jakarta, where she remains an influential voice in SMEC’s Global Leadership and is a Director of the SMEC Foundation, championing community investment in developing countries.

Karen serves as a Vice Chair of the International Hydropower Association (IHA) and is on the Advisory Board of Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I), a DFAT-backed program advancing sustainable infrastructure across Southeast Asia.

With her strong track record in leading pumped storage and hydropower initiatives globally, Karen brings a wealth of insight and perspective to international discussions on building resilient energy systems for the future.