Karen Dickson

Karen Dickson is an experienced workforce development and employer engagement leader with more than two decades of expertise spanning employability, recruitment, sales leadership, operational management and inclusion strategy. As Employer Services Director at Reed in Partnership, she works with employers across the UK to create inclusive workplaces, develop diverse talent pipelines and drive sustainable employment outcomes.

Passionate about creating cultures where everyone can thrive, Karen is a strong advocate for inclusion and belonging. During her five years at Reed in Partnership, she has built trusted relationships that enable her to influence strategic direction and drive meaningful change through both her executive role and her leadership within the Disability Working Group.

As Neurodiversity Lead, Karen has led initiatives focused on improving the experience of neurodivergent colleagues across the organisation. She has developed proposals for enhanced support for neurodivergent colleagues, designed Reed in Partnership's Neurodiversity Hub, and championed storytelling initiatives that highlight real experiences, challenges and solutions to foster greater understanding and inclusion across the business.

Karen has also spearheaded neurodiversity-focused projects within her own teams, creating drop-in sessions that have grown to attract colleagues from multiple divisions. These forums encourage open discussion, provide practical support and create opportunities for colleagues to influence organisational thinking around inclusion and belonging. This work has increased awareness and supported improved confidence, engagement and performance amongst employees facing workplace barriers.

Through her role as Employer Services Director, Karen and her team have created employer masterclasses on building more inclusive workplaces, drawing on expertise from across Reed. Topics include inclusive recruitment, disability confidence, supporting neurodivergent employees, social value and evidence-based approaches to diverse hiring. Her work helps employers understand the commercial, social and human value of building truly inclusive workforces.

Karen's commitment to disability inclusion extends beyond neurodiversity. As a neurodivergent leader herself, she understands first-hand the challenges many people face in navigating workplace environments. Having spent much of her career adapting and masking aspects of her condition, she is committed to helping create workplaces where people can bring their authentic selves to work and access the support they need to succeed.

Alongside her professional experience, Karen has completed Level 3 Autism training, qualified as a Neurodiversity Coach and is a member of the Scottish Parliament's Cross-Party Group on Dyslexia.

As an Advisory Board Member, Karen brings a distinctive combination of commercial leadership, inclusion expertise, employer insight and lived experience. Her contribution helps organisations understand how inclusive cultures can unlock individual potential, strengthen performance and create lasting positive impact for people, communities and businesses alike.