Ms Karen Dolphin
Head of Athlete and Olympian Relations - IOC
PROFILE
With a proven track record in stakeholder collaboration and strategic leadership, I bring a unique blend of experience from both the sports and pharmaceutical sectors. As an elite karate athlete and coach, I've spent over a decade competing at the highest international level, proudly representing Team Ireland at the Inaugural European Games in Baku. This journey has not only honed my skills on the mat but also instilled in me the importance of teamwork, resilience, and strategic planning.
Simultaneously, I maintained a dual-career as a Lead Pharmacist, where I excelled in directing and managing diverse teams while ensuring the highest standards of patient care. This experience has equipped me with invaluable insights into operational efficiency, organizational management, and effective communication.
In my executive roles, I've had the privilege of collaborating with senior stakeholders both within the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and externally, fostering relationships that drive innovation and progress. My responsibilities have spanned strategic planning, implementation of athlete focused initiatives, and ensuring athletes voice is integrated across the Olympic Movement. I'm passionate about leveraging my expertise to support athletes, advance sports initiatives, and contribute to meaningful change within sport.
EDUCATION
AISTS International Academy of Sports Science and Technology, Master of Advanced Studies, EPFL (2016)
MASTER OF PHARMACY (MPHARM) University of Brighton (2003 - 2007)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE
HEAD OF ATHLETE AND OLYMPIAN RELATIONS INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE / Lausanne – Current position
COMMUNICATION AND DIGITAL INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY FEDERATION (FIH) / Lausanne / June 2016 – February 2017
HEAD OF SERVICES AND LEAD PHARMACIST GREEN LIGHT PHARMACY / London / September 2014 – December 2015
LEAD PHARMACIST KAMSON’S PHARMACY / London / September 2008 – April 2014
ACHIEVEMENT AND AWARDS
EUROPEAN GAMES, BAKU 2015 | KARATE ATHLETE, IRELAND Female Kata / Azerbaijan / Jun 2015
Represented Team Ireland, as Ireland’s first ever karate competitor at an Olympic sanctioned, multi-sport event. Ranked Top 8 at these inaugural European Games.
ROYAL PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY | ‘I LOVE MY PHARMACIST’ AWARD RPSBG / London / Nov 2015
Shortlisted by an expert panel to become one of 18 finalists across the United Kingdom. Thousands of members of the public then voted for their favourite pharmacists where I was awarded the regional title of London and Kent, qualifying within the top 6 Pharmacists in the UK.
GALWAY ALLSTAR SPORTS AWARD | FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN KARATE IN 2015 Connaught Tribune/Medtronic Award / Galway, Ireland / Dec 2015
Awarded an All-Star award for my contribution to sport and karate in 2015. The 51st annual Galway Sports Stars awards banquet, held in the Galway Bay Hotel honours the county’s top performers over the past 12 months.
EXPERTISE
Team leadership, management, pharmacy and scientific thinking, consultation skills, project management, coaching, athlete development, public relations, sport and
martial arts.
