Karen Shepherd

Master of Ceremonies
Cerava Management Sdn Bhd
An award-winning writer and content creator based in Sarawak over twenty years. Her expertise spans print media, film and documentaries, as well as urban cultural development. She served as Strategic Director for the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in Kuching, overseeing the application and then the project over its first cycle of designation (2021-2025) She established and wrote the narratives for the city’s gastronomy application, which earned a Gourmand World Cookbook award. Subsequently, she steered its implementation over the next four years. Following this, she also crafted the successful application for Kuala Lumpur as a UNESCO City of Design in 2025 and then formed part of the team preparing Sarawak’s inaugural Creative Industry Blueprint, supporting the future growth of the sector. She holds a Law degree (LLB) from King’s College London and a Master’s in Communication and Culture from the London College of Fashion.