Karen Maher is the Founder of SmartCulture® and is a leading Australian WHS consultant and keynote speaker specialising in enhancing workplace culture/safety and reducing psychosocial risks, such as bullying and sexual harassment. Karen is a respected expert in her field, regularly presenting to panels, boards of directors, management teams and front line staff across the country. Her experience spans over 18 years, starting out as an employment and safety lawyer in Australia and the UK, and then as a work health and safety consultant, trainer and speaker. Karen has worked at firms including Sparke Helmore Lawyers, Lovells LLP, Aon, UK Treasury Solicitors and The Brief Group (now merged with Deloitte). Karen has also acted as a legal advisor to the RailCorp NSW Workplace Conduct.Karen has worked with a diverse range of industries and clients. From the NRL to emergency services, tech companies, hospitals, legal and accounting firms, government agencies, private schools and construction and mining (to name a few).Her experience includes working on over 300 cases from all parts of the process, including advisory; drafting allegations; coaching managers; developing strategies/processes/reviews; conducting workplace investigations into serious allegations involving bullying, harassment, discrimination and workplace fatalities; and defending cases in the courtroom. She has seen it all. During her time in London, Karen was entrusted to work on several cases listed on the Home Office High Profile Case List. Karen started her own consultancy several years ago to work with organisations to ‘get ahead of the game’ focusing on prevention, being proactive and great leadership. Karen’s legal/consulting background coupled with a desire to make workplaces happier and safer is what inspires and continues to drive her to specialise in the field of workplace culture and safety and all that encompasses it.With Karen’s approachable manner, engaging delivery, industry expertise and case studies to draw from; thousands of staff and their leaders across multiple organisations have benefited from her teaching methodologies, insights, strategies, and models. Karen is also a member of the International Association on Workplace Bullying and Harassment.