Meet Catherine Karena

Catherine is a researcher, educator, and entrepreneur with a career spanning technology, training, and social innovation.

She has designed and delivered high-end technical training for corporate and government clients, created job-specific programs connecting marginalized youth with the IT industry, and founded Test-Ed, an initiative that equips neuro-divergent and disadvantaged young people to outperform university graduates in software testing and development.

Catherine has held leadership roles across education, recruitment, and policy analysis. She has built joint ventures in online learning, managed social enterprise training programs, and consulted on emerging technologies and political communications. Her work has been recognized by companies such as Atlassian and Google for demonstrating innovative, real-world training models that challenge outdated educational systems.

She brings to Parallel Dignity deep experience in research, course development, and technology strategy. With a proven ability to build bridges between communities, industry, and policy, Catherine’s commitment to safeguarding children, supporting families, and defending evidence-based practice makes her a vital part of the team’s mission.