Karen McConachy - Project Manager
	Karen's career began, in 1976, as an IT data controller at Pyne Gould Guinness. By 1985, before she took 5 years of to be a full time mother, Karen was a working in the UK as a senior IT programmer.  During her time as a software practitioner Karen was involved in the maintenance & development of a broad spectrum of commercial IT computer systems.   In 1990 Karen rejoined the workforce as a software project lead at Jade (Formally Aoraki Corporation). From 1995 to 1998 she led the Eaton (formally Swichtec) software and product testing group, managing a team of 12 staff.  She quickly moved through the ranks to become Eaton's New Zealand programme manager with responsibility, via her project management team, for all projects run out of the New Zealand group. During this time Karen managed a diverse portfolio of hardware, software and business IT projects.   Karen’s key capabilities include:   • Information Technology projects • Programme management • Portfolio and business process development • Management of offshore manufacturing • Applications for and the management of government development grants   Karen is a member of the Project Management Institute.   Karen was raised on the West Coast, but has lived most of her adult life on the Canterbury Plains. Her leisure pursuits include cooking and gardening.