Karen Foster is a second term Councillor at Moyne Shire Council and Acting President of Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA) Victoria. She has served as Mayor and Deputy Mayor, and was once the only woman on her council.
Karen didn’t set out with a clear plan to become a leader in local government.
But the interest was there early.
As a cadet journalist covering council meetings, she found herself drawn to the decisions being made and the way they shaped the community around her.
“It was always in the back of my mind that I would like to be a Councillor someday,” she says.
That idea stayed with her as her career unfolded. She built a business, stepped into governance through board roles, and became both a director and chair. Over time, her experience deepened, but the instinct to contribute at a community level never quite left.
It wasn’t until 2018 that something shifted.
A group of women in her community came together with the intention of supporting more women to stand for local council. At the time, only one woman had been elected across three terms, and there was a shared sense that something needed to change. Karen initially joined to support others but found herself reconsidering her own role in that effort.
“I joined thinking I’d support other women to stand… but ended up throwing my hat in the ring myself.”
She was elected in 2019, and at that time she was the only woman on council. This term, women make up the majority.
Looking for something more than experience
Karen has always been interested in leadership, not only in how it works in practice, but in what it means to lead well over time.
“I’m always seeking out high calibre training and opportunities to be in the company of inspiring leaders,” she says.
Compass came into view after hearing Fabian Dattner speak at the Municipal Association of Victoria conference. There was already a level of familiarity, but what stood out in that moment was the way leadership was being framed.
“It seemed to take account of the person as a whole, not just their role or job title.”
By this point, Karen had accumulated significant experience. What she was looking for was not more information, but something that would allow her to reflect more deeply on how she was leading and who she was becoming within that.
Time to think, not just learn
Karen has undertaken a range of leadership development over the years, and yet Compass offered something distinct.
“It was a relatively big commitment, but that deeper immersion meant I had time to pursue a line of thinking and to reflect more deeply on what I was hearing,” she says.
That space to think became one of the most valuable aspects of the experience. It allowed her to stay with ideas for longer, rather than moving quickly from one concept to the next.
Equally important was the group itself.
“The greatest value for me was being in the presence of other inspired and inspiring women,” she says.
Each woman brought a different perspective, shaped by her own experiences, and those conversations extended well beyond the sessions themselves. Karen remains in touch with the two women she was matched with in her triad and continues to draw on both the relationships and the material from the program.
“Months later, I still refer to the notes I took during the sessions. There were plenty of practical and implementable strategies that I apply in my work every day. Sometimes that’s in relation to my own leadership and sometimes it’s in relation to one of the leaders I am mentoring or coaching.”
Leading in a complex environment
Local government brings with it a unique set of pressures, where competing priorities, public accountability, and constant demands can make it difficult to step back and reflect.
Over time, this can shape how leaders show up.
Karen speaks openly about how easy it is in that environment to become reactive, or to slip into patterns of thinking that are more negative or constrained than intended.
Compass offered a different experience.
“Hearing the voices of other younger women refreshed my sense of optimism,” she says.
“It’s easy to slide into negativity and cynicism. Being immersed in so much enthusiasm and positivity reinvigorated me and re inspired me to be that voice for positivity.”
That renewed sense of optimism has stayed with her, influencing how she engages with others and how she approaches the challenges of leadership within her role.
Looking ahead
When asked what she would say to other women in local government who are considering Compass, Karen keeps her response simple and direct.
“Give yourself this gift of time and insight.”
It is a reminder that leadership development is not always about doing more, but about creating the conditions to think more clearly and to understand yourself more deeply.
Looking ahead, her focus is increasingly on those who will come after her.
“I’m turning my attention towards the generations of leaders who will come after me,” she says.
Her intention is to support others to recognise their value earlier, and to lead in ways that feel authentic and grounded in who they are.
A different way of seeing leadership
Karen’s story is ultimately one of recognising the value of qualities she already possessed and learning to lead from that place with greater clarity, confidence, and self-trust. Compass helped create the space for that recognition to deepen and take hold.
About Karen Foster
Karen Foster is a second term Councillor at Moyne Shire Council and current Acting President of ALGWA Vic. She has served two terms as Mayor and one term as Deputy Mayor. A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Karen is an active Board Director and Chair, and works to support women in leadership through mentoring and coaching. She lives in Port Fairy with her husband and enjoys reading, gardening and long walks along the coast.
The Compass Women in Leadership Flagship program commences on 25th June 2026. Explore how the game changing Compass program can support your leadership.
