Ranked as the Number 1 director in the African & Middle Eastern territory, Karien nabbed the region’s top honours at the 2025 Loerie Awards - winning the first ever Grand Prix to be awarded to a Film Craft category for Performance.

After over a decade in the directing chair her award-winning work has garnered both viral fame and international recognition – the first female to direct for Heineken, she also helmed the first non-US campaign to be shortlisted for Advertising Excellence at the AICP Awards. Karien's work spans a variety of brands including Heineken, KFC, Google, New Balance, and Toyota. This year, she returns to the D&AD Directing Jury for a third time.

A fresh female voice, Karien is sought after by creatives for her effortless collaboration, her knack for performance and comedy, and her keen sensibility to adapt the tone of her work to serve the script. Elevated visual storytelling with a funny bone hits Karien's creative sweet spot.