The BPE DNA

made an Arms Length Management Organisation to manage and improve the council’s housing stock.

“We secured millions of pounds in funding and turned it into a successful independent housing association,” she said.

Karen joined Gloucestershire Airport in 2018 and took over as Managing Director two years later. She’s now rolling out a major turnaround project for the second time in her career.

“I saw a huge opportunity for Gloucestershire Airport,” she says. “It’s an unrecognised gem. We have a wealth of land, of businesses, of aircraft that want to come here.”

She also supports promoting opportunities for young people and the airport regularly hosts young people undertaking work experience.

The biggest challenge for every airport is moving to sustainable aviation, says Karen and she’s making sure that Gloucestershire Airport is in on that conversation too. The site is currently shortlisted to be one of the UK’s first hydrogen refuelling plants.