I'm an author, writer, editor, and communications specialist with over 25 years of media experience.
In 2023, I completed my first novel, A Stella is Born.
I’m also a yoga teacher with three teacher training diplomas.
My most important role is being a mother to my beautiful son.
Let's collaborate!
Karen
Jennifer Byrne - Presenter, ABC TV's, First Tuesday Book Club
Thomas Kaufhold MIRM (Life), Chair of the Board, RIMPA
"You've got to go out there, and sell BOOKS", we said. "On TV". Karen did not throw up her arms, check our brain waves or laugh - at least, not that we saw. She went out there and did the job - really well, with heart and muscle, and I wish she was still with us at the First Tuesday Book Club. Thanks Kaz - for all your help, above and beyond.”
“RIMPA engaged Karen as the Editor iQ magazine from June 2018. Karen’s positive impact to improve the magazine was immediate from the first issue she edited. The quality of the magazine in terms of design, format and content has increased dramatically. As an experienced and well-connected editor and writer Karen sourced interesting and topical articles in the information management space. Subsequently, Karen led the editorial team to further improve the magazine through innovative ideas and by sourcing quality articles to ensure that RIMPA members are provided with useful and timely information to draw on when working in the information management profession.”
Pam Cordell – RSPCA Gold Coast Branch Manager
"I had the absolute pleasure of contracting Karen Farrell to undertake a number of significant, high profile events on behalf of RSPCA Queensland over a 12 month period. Apart from having an engaging personality, Karen is an extremely polished professional with extensive experience and a multitude of skills and attributes, as well as having access to many noteworthy contacts. Karen’s expert writing abilities produced outstanding publicity for all of the events and activities she was tasked with organising, from conception to completion. It was a delight to have Karen working closely with me, bringing enthusiasm and creative ideas to the table whenever we were looking to achieve great results."
Brian Cregan - Founder, Chairman & CEO Ocean & Earth International
"Karen worked tirelessly with the Ocean & Earth brand over four consecutive contracts and we have been overwhelmed by her knowledge and extensive contacts within the Australian media. The reason we resigned Karen to maintain our profile is simple: she continued to raise highly visible and effective media coverage for Ocean & Earth across a wide range of mediums. Karen gave our brand a presence in areas we never would have dreamed of and the variety of exposure is outstanding... One minute Ocean & Earth featured on high-rating TV programs by famous celebrities and the next minute we read about ourselves in business newspapers. Karen keeps working new angles for exposure and is dedicated to delivering communications strategies through sheer hard work. I enthusiastically recommend Karen's services.”
Sue Lester - Head of Marketing & Promotions, ABC TV
"ABC TV contracted Karen Farrell to assist us with numerous events, publicity campaigns, and public relations endeavours over six years. The reason we have continued to engage Karen is because she delivers.
Karen has event managed very large media and show business functions for ABC TV. Her attention to detail is exemplary. She is an extremely good publicist and is adept at convincing journalists to cover a not so interesting story. Karen’s assignments for ABC TV have been across many genres: Arts, Documentary, Entertainment, News and Current Affairs. She has excelled at delivering to the brief and we have achieved the results we required. ABC TV will continue to use Karen’s expertise.”
Rhys Kelly - Head of Communications, The Smith Family
"The Smith Family commissioned Karen Farrell to provide its expertise on seven separate campaigns to raise awareness and improve understandings around the organisation’s enduring work. Karen's commitment to each campaign has achieved positive publicity and extensive coverage across all communications mediums nationally."
Sandra Sully - National Network News Presenter, Network Ten
Courtney Gibson – ABC TV Head of Arts, Entertainment & Comedy
"Karen Farrell is a consummate professional and a first-class publicist. Publicity is a very niche market and good TV publicists can be worth their weight in gold. I enjoyed working with Karen and have no hesitation in recommending her as a publicist of the highest order. She can be relied upon to get the job done.”
"Karen Farrell is a publicist who delivers and delivers and delivers. She's a strategic and lateral thinker who works outside the box to maximise coverage and column inches, and always across a surprising variety of media and approaches. In terms of ABC TV's arts output, over the past two years, Karen has been the key driving force that's ensured it's more visible and more talked about than possibly ever before."
Richard Old, Marketing Manager, Great Lakes Tourism
“Great Lakes Tourism worked with Karen Farrell for two years. Over this time the region achieved substantial positive exposure through all forms of media, resulting in a strong and growing tourism industry. Tourism and hospitality are at the heart of the Great Lakes community. Karen understands this and works closely with Great Lakes Tourism in achieving local and regional objectives. Great Lakes Tourism, the region and individual businesses have greatly benefited from exposure generated. I have no hesitation in recommending Karen as an excellent choice when developing and enacting a public relations strategy with the tourism industry."
Charles Firth - Founder of multi Logie Award-winning comedy team, The Chaser
"I wish Karen had been worse at her job. I know the idea was to get lots of publicity but Karen Farrell's media schedule was packed from morning to night. If you want to know what it's like to be Paris Hilton for a day, I suggest you get Karen to do your publicity. Just make sure you keep your underwear on."
Kylie du Fresne, Producer, The Essential Viewing Group
"Karen Farrell was hired for the launch of the 26-part Tim Winton series Lockie Leonard. My aim was to get as many reviews and interviews as possible for the launch across magazines, newspapers and radio.
With only a short lead-in time, Karen secured pieces with most of the major publications around Australia. She was also great at making sure the publicity was distributed evenly with our main actors, creators and Tim Winton, so the same story was not run over and over. We enjoyed an extremely popular series.”
Ken McManus - Account Service Director, Firecracker Advertising & Marketing
“During a growth period for Firecracker we contracted Karen Farrell, principal of Strut PR & Events to assist us with numerous exclusive PR campaigns. The projects ranged from publicising an opening exhibition at the Queen Victoria Building for prominent visual artist Vincent Ko - to disseminating a comprehensive PR plan for the 2006 HIA Home & Building Expo in Brisbane – to writing numerous key media releases for Select Appointments, one of Australia’s leading recruitment agencies.
Karen Farrell is extremely savvy and was absolutely dependable in communicating our clients’ needs to the media. We would recommend Karen to anyone wanting a full-service, boutique PR agency experience.”
Steven Salgo - Producer/Director (Documentaries include Life after Bali, Plagued by Memories, Tribal Frontier)
“Karen Farrell’s sensitivity and expertise in promoting the documentary, Life after Bali, was exemplary. Retelling the story of a family tragically torn by the terror attack on Bali was extremely difficult. Karen’s judgment in guiding the media's awareness of the story and great compassion, in particular, with the film's main character Dave Byron was outstanding. I couldn’t have asked for more.”
Steve Kelly - Client Services Director, Bold Advertising and Communications
"As part of an integrated communications plan for a well-known B2B brand, Bold Advertising briefed Karen Farrell to develop targeted communications for staff, business and media markets. Within a very tight deadline, Karen delivered thought-out, innovative, and importantly on brief recommendations."