Karen Jacobs

Karen is a bloodline descendant and a Traditional Owner of Whadjuk Country, within the Noongar Nation.

Karen is the Sole Principal of Indigenous Economic Solutions Pty Ltd, trading as IES Cultural Heritage, IES Enviro Scapes and IES Enviro Clean.

Her primary focus is on developing opportunities and encouraging Aboriginal people’s involvement in planning, enterprise and business activity.

Karen has an extensive background in business management, strategic planning, cultural heritage, Native Title and cultural practices, facilitation and consultation, environmental planning and management, cultural tourism and Aboriginal education.

Karen was a former lecturer at the UWA, School of Social Science in the Foundations to Heritage Management.

Her career has led to the provision of Indigenous Specialist Services, in Native Title legislation, Noongar Land Management, Cultural Responsive Training programs and the integration of cultural heritage in landscapes, design and placemaking, and the go to expert, engaged by design teams for urban design, construction, and infrastructure projects, and Aboriginal procurement.

Karen has undertaken the position of company director for the past 23 years, her board competencies are; public speaking, corporate decision making, probity and procurement, compliance, business management, strategic planning & analysis, financial management, marketing and promotion, engagement and participation of Aboriginal people’s”