Karen Blake MBE

Karen Blake MBE Hon. FBAASc is a highly regarded DEI strategist, tech inclusion leader and neurodiversity advocate whose career has reshaped how the UK technology sector approaches diversity, equity and digital access. She was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2026 New Year Honours for services to technology and diversity, and in 2025 was elected an Honorary Fellow of the British Science Association in recognition of her contribution to equity and inclusion in science and technology.

As former co-CEO of the Tech Talent Charter, a government-backed UK non-profit advancing diversity and inclusion within the technology sector, Karen co-authored the influential Lovelace Report examining female attrition in tech and helped create the largest dataset of its kind on diversity in the UK tech workforce. Under her leadership, the Charter's work impacted over 800 signatory companies, delivering tangible improvements in organisational culture, employee engagement and diversity metrics.

Karen's distinguished career spans the public, private and third sectors, including senior roles at Deloitte and EY. She specialises in intersectional diversity, neuroinclusion, disability equity and inclusive leadership, combining strategic insight with practical implementation to drive measurable business outcomes. Her consulting approach encompasses DEI governance frameworks aligned with ESG objectives, data-driven methodologies for measuring inclusion impact, and inclusive talent ecosystems that embed equity throughout the employee lifecycle.

A sought-after keynote speaker and thought leader, Karen delivers compelling presentations at major industry conferences, corporate events and policy forums on topics ranging from neuroinclusion and disability equity to gender parity and intersectionality in practice. In 2025 she was named one of Computer Weekly's Top Five Most Influential Women in Tech.

Karen is also the co-founder of Active Inclusion: Equity, a disability and neuro-inclusion advocacy initiative. For Calling All Minds, she brings deep expertise in tech sector transformation, workforce planning, policy development and the practical implementation of neuroinclusive systems at scale.