Karlene Agard is an award-winning megaproject expert, international keynote speaker, and emotional risk pioneer. She helps organisations and individuals unlock success through her consulting, research and speaking engagements, which have taken her from TEDx LancasterU to Windsor Castle. With a rare blend of technical insight and emotional intelligence, Karlene empowers professionals to navigate complex challenges with clarity and resilience.

A sought-after speaker, Karlene has presented at national and international conferences including the Major Projects Association, Association for Project Management, and Institute of Risk Management. She has also guest lectured at the University of Warwick and the University of Greenwich, sharing practical strategies for risk and value management.

Karlene holds an Executive Masters in Major Programme Management from the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, where she's also conducted research and delivers project management training. Her expertise has shaped high-impact projects across North America, Europe, and Asia through her leadership roles at ARAVUN and Oxford Global Projects. She has served governments and the private sector, and her thought leadership has been featured in Forbes, McKinsey, Entrepreneur, and Deloitte.

Through her work, Karlene pioneers a fresh approach to professional growth—one that doesn’t just measure risk by numbers, but by human impact. Her TEDx talk, Emotional Risk Management: Bouncing Back From Failure, explores how reframing failure can transform your life. Whether on stage, in print, or consulting boardrooms, Karlene is committed to helping others turn challenges into catalysts for lasting success.