Keynote Speaker
Karen Hoisington is known for building business brands that include several well-known Singapore Superbrands, ranging from airlines to zoos, since the 1980s. A regular speaker on Singapore's history and heritage, Karen has appeared on the UK’s BBC and local TV documentaries.
Scroll down for Public Talks, Seminars, Workshops, TV Documentaries and more
ART THERAPY WORKSHOP
Singapore Art Week
24 January 2026
Surrey Hills Raffles City




Latest
2026: Singapore Art Week 2026 Art Therapy Workshop "Pollinator"
2026: MINDEF National Defence Day Documentary "Elizabeth Choy"
Institutional Keynote Speaker (Singapore History & Heritage)
2022: Vincent Hoisington (1924-1972), Artist, Entrepreneur, Nothing is Forever Singapore Exhibition, National Gallery Singapore
2020: Archives Invites – Karen Hoisington: Personal Correspondences of Elizabeth Choy OBE, National Archives of Singapore
2019: From Gambier to Gucci, Singapore Bicentennial Season, Library@Orchard
2019: From Gambier to Gucci, Singapore Bicentennial Season, Fort Canning
2018: From Surrender to Significance The Legacy of Elizabeth Choy, OBE (1945 – 1955), Former Ford Factory, National Heritage Board
2018: The Story of Elizabeth Choy OBE – Japanese History Association, Bangkok, Thailand
2017: Acts of Faith, St Andrews Cathedral, Singapore
2017: Taking the High Ground: The Morality and Memory of Elizabeth Choy,, Witness to War Season, National Museum Singapore
2017: “A Flower in the Fall: The Torture, Testimony, and Triumph of Elizabeth Choy OBE”, National Library, Main Library
2017: The Life and Legacy of Elizabeth Choy, OBE, Malaysia Heritage Trust, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2015: Cakap: History of Orchard Road, Singapore Heritage Society, Library@Orchard
2011: Mods. Hippies, & Dallas: Down Fashion Memory Lane in the 60s, 70s, and 80s in Singapore, National Library, Main Library
Keynote Speaker (Personal Branding & Entrepreneurship)
2019: PIVOT, Malmö, Sweden
2019: Personal Branding, Paris, France
2018: Personal Branding, Malmö, Sweden
2018: The POW of Personal Branding (International Women's Day), Malmö, Sweden
2017: Bag it with Style: Go Vintage!, Library@Orchard
2016: Brand! Desire Library@Orchard, Singapore
2011: Art & Science of the Handbag, Singapore Science Centre
2011: It’s in the Bag!: Personal Branding and Style, Estee Lauder, Singapore
2008: It’s in the Bag!: Personal Branding and Style, AIA, Singapore
2008: It’s in the Bag!: Personal Branding and Style The International Women's Federation of Commerce and Industry (IWFCI), Singapore
Event Producer, Publicist, Programme Emcee & Moderator
2026: Singapore Art Week, "Pollinator" Exhibition, Hoisington Galleries (exhibition, art therapy workshop)
2025: Singapore Art Week, "Urban Drift" Art Exhibition, Hoisington Galleries (exhibition)
2024: Singapore Art Week, "Earth.Interrupted" Art Exhibition, Hoisington Galleries (exhibition, talk, children's workshop)
2010: Steve Slater: Design for Speed, National University of Singapore Auditorium
2010: Darren Heath: Photography Tips on the F1 Track, 2010 Singapore F1 GP, National Library
2009: Darren Heath: F1 Photography Symposium, Science of F1 Exhibition, Singapore Science Centre
2008: Darren Heath: Life on the Fast Track, The Pod, National Library, Main Library
Workshop Designer & Facilitator
2020: “Elizabeth Choy”, Docent Training, National Museum Singapore
2019: “Elizabeth Choy”, Docent Training, National Museum Singapore
2019: Unleash Your Book Workshop, Malmö, Sweden
2018: Unleash Your Book Workshop, Singapore
2018: Moving On, Moving Up Workshop, Singapore
2016: Brand! Desire Workshop, Library@Orchard
ZOOM Talks (Covid Season)
2022: Brand Ambassador, FENIX Sweden
2022: Personal Branding, FENIX Sweden
2022: Service Excellence, FENIX Sweden
2020: Elizabeth Choy, Book Launch, AsiaPac, Singapore
2020: Personal Branding, FENIX Sweden
2020: Service Excellence, FENIX Sweden
2020: Brand Ambassador, FENIX Sweden
Interviews for TV Documentaries
MINDEF "National Defence Day"
30 January 2026
Producer: MINDEF/SAF
Network: Red Dot Stories
“Great Railway Journeys with Michael Portillo: Singapore”
4 April 2020 @10pm
Producer: Boundless UK
Network: BBC 2 UK
“Foodage”
4 August 2011@10pm
Producer: Sitting In Pictures
Network: Mediacorp OKTO
“Momento SG”
19 June 2013 @10pm
Producer: Moving Visuals OKTO 19 June 2013
Network: Mediacorp OKTO
“History From The Hills - Fort Canning”
4 Dec 17 2013 @ 10 pm
Producer: Sitting In Pictures
Network: Mediacorp OKTO
“Singapore National Campaigns”
18 June 2014
Producer: Sitting In Pictures
Network: Mediacorp OKTO
Publications
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Vincent Hoisington (1924-1972): Art and Legacy (launching 2024)
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Evolve: Reinventing Your Personal Brand in Times of Transition (2020)
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Pulling the Punch in Your Personal Branding (2019)
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Dana: From Sweden to Uganda (2019)
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A Flower in the Fall (2018)
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Brand! Desire - 39 Recipes for Creating a Brand That Leaves Your Customers Wanting More (2016)
Professional Experiences
2022-Present: Gallerist, Hoisington Galleries
2018 – Present : Brand Development Specialist / Keynote Speaker
2018 – Present : Founder and Creative Director, Datum Branding
2008 – 2017 : Adjunct Lecturer, Nanyang Polytechnic, School of Design
2016 – 2016 : Adjunct LecturerAdjunct Lecturer, Kyoto International University, Marketing and Anthropology
2008 – 2014 : Associate Lecturer, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Innovation & Enterprise
1988 – 2008 : Founder, Creative Director, Datum Design
1980 – 1988 : Art Director, Ogilvy & Mather
Awards
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Mediacorp Star Awards (2003)
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Creative Circle Singapore, Gold (1985), Silver (1986), Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Singapore (4As)
Certifications
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Advanced Certification for Training and Assessments (ACTA), Institute of Adult Learning
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Certificate of Wedding Planners, Institute of Wedding Planners
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Specialist Diploma of Quantity Surveying, Building and Construction Authority
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Certificate in Risk Management - Control, Manage and Optimise Projects, Building and Construction Authority
Academic
BA (Hons), Design Kingston University, London, UK
M.Div, Trinity College for Asia, Singapore
M.Th, (Education), AGST Alliance, Malaysia