“Many people don’t fully understand the implications of AMR or how they contribute to this growing problem. It’s not just for the scientists to solve – we all have a role to play.”

Karen Wang is an experienced finance and accounting professional and Finance Manager at SAAFE CRC. Karen is enthusiastic about contributing to scientific advancement and brings more than 15 years’ expertise and experience from her roles across the health, aged care, not-for-profit and private sectors.

Enthusiastic about contributing to scientific advancement and a firm believer in the power of education to address and transform world issues, she’s always aspired to work at the intersection of education and health.

As such, Karen’s career has been punctuated by notable health-related initiatives, including: managing contracts for COVID-19 hospital intensive care beds, aged care funding, and refinancing loans for the new Royal Adelaide Hospital construction. She’s also been involved in a range of key government funding projects, such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), South Australian Housing Trust leasing, foster care support, and various community grants.

Identifying antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a concerning global issue, Karen was drawn to the opportunity to combine her financial expertise with her passion for public health outcomes through the pursuit of AMR solutions at SAAFE.

As our Finance Manager, she’s responsible for all things accounting – from daily reconciliation and payroll to monitoring the year-to-date budget, reviewing financial statements, and ensuring compliance with accounting standards.