Karen Souza

I am a Senior Diversity and Inclusion Partner at Innovate UK Business Connect, where I lead on key programmes that drive inclusion, engagement, and innovation across the UK’s diverse communities. My work spans strategic leadership of our Community Engagement work, the delivery of competitions including Women in Innovation and Young Innovators, and the management and continuous improvement of Innovate UK’s Reasonable Adjustments service.

My journey into this field was shaped by a decade in the hospitality industry and time spent growing my family, experiences that honed my adaptability and passion for people. Since joining Innovate UK Business Connect in 2015, I have progressed through roles in Business Support and Reach and Engagement, before following my passion for Diversity and Inclusion.