Karen Dunnell

Karen Dunnell 2008

British statistician

Dame Karen Dunnell

Nationality	British
Known for	Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics
Awards	Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath

Dame Karen Hope Dunnell is a British statistician who served as the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in the United Kingdom. She was appointed to this role in 2005 and held the position until 2009.

Early Life and Education

Karen Dunnell was born in London. She attended the London School of Economics (LSE), where she earned her degree in social sciences and later completed a Master's degree in medical sociology.

Career

Dunnell began her career in the National Health Service (NHS) as a medical sociologist. She joined the Office for Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) in 1974, which later became part of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in 1996. Throughout her career, she has been involved in various significant projects, including the UK Census and numerous health and social surveys.

In 2005, Dunnell was appointed as the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. During her tenure, she oversaw the modernization of the ONS and the implementation of new statistical methodologies. She played a crucial role in enhancing the quality and accessibility of national statistics.

Honors and Awards

In recognition of her contributions to the field of statistics, Karen Dunnell was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath (DCB) in the 2009 New Year Honours.

Personal Life

Dunnell is married and has two children. She is known for her dedication to improving public understanding of statistics and her efforts to promote the use of statistical data in policy-making.

See Also

• Office for National Statistics
• National Statistician
• Census in the United Kingdom
• London School of Economics