Karen grew up in her constituency and has lived most of her life in Shotts, where she attended Dykehead Primary and Calderhead High School. 

Karen graduated in 1991 and joined the Benefits Agency, leaving a year later to become Personal Assistant to Rachel Squire MP for Dunfermline West.

Karen was elected to the Scottish Parliament on 6th May 1999. She has been an active Labour Party member since 1988 during which time she has held various posts at every level.

After leaving school she went to Glasgow Caledonian University, where she gained an Honours Degree in Public Administration and Management. While at university she was an English Speaking Union intern working on Capitol Hill for a Democrat Senator. She was also a volunteer in the constituency office of John Reid MP.