Karen Kerschke
Director of Corporate Governance and Sustainable Investment, Office of the Illinois State Treasurer
Karen is the Director of Corporate Governance and Sustainable Investment at the Office of the Illinois State Treasurer. As Director, she is responsible for corporate engagement, proxy voting, and policy advocacy related to sustainable investment. She also oversees the Office's program to track and enhance business with Minority, Women, Veteran, and Disabled-Owned firms.
As part of her leadership at the Office of the Illinois Treasurer, Karen co-leads the Midwest Investors Diversity Initiative, which engages publicly listed companies on board diversity. She also holds leadership roles at the Valuing Water Finance Initiative and the Council of Institutional Investors.
Prior to joining the Illinois Treasurer's Office in 2023, Karen worked as a senior policy analyst at the U.N. Principles for Responsible Investment.
She holds a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Chicago and a B.A. in Political Science and Art History from Lawrence University. Karen was born and raised in Germany.
Director of Corporate Governance and Sustainable Investment, Office of the Illinois State Treasurer
Karen is the Director of Corporate Governance and Sustainable Investment at the Office of the Illinois State Treasurer. As Director, she is responsible for corporate engagement, proxy voting, and policy advocacy related to sustainable investment. She also oversees the Office's program to track and enhance business with Minority, Women, Veteran, and Disabled-Owned firms.
As part of her leadership at the Office of the Illinois Treasurer, Karen co-leads the Midwest Investors Diversity Initiative, which engages publicly listed companies on board diversity. She also holds leadership roles at the Valuing Water Finance Initiative and the Council of Institutional Investors.
Prior to joining the Illinois Treasurer's Office in 2023, Karen worked as a senior policy analyst at the U.N. Principles for Responsible Investment.
She holds a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Chicago and a B.A. in Political Science and Art History from Lawrence University. Karen was born and raised in Germany.