Casting our minds back to the Facilities Management Awards UK 2026, held last 25th September at the Park Plaza London Riverbank, the FM Professional of the Year award went to Karen Morales, Head of Estates at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, in recognition of a transformational body of work that combined operational rigour with inclusive, people-centred leadership across one of the UK's most complex healthcare environments.

Karen Morales took on the challenge of reshaping Estates performance at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust following a major TUPE transition, a period of significant change that had left behind long-standing backlogs and instability in service delivery. Through a combination of strategic clarity, hands-on operational leadership, and a genuine commitment to her team, she eliminated those backlogs, restored service stability, and established a consistently high standard of performance that the Trust, its staff, and its patients now depend on. Her ability to combine deep Estates expertise with organisational development leadership gave her work a breadth of impact that extended well beyond traditional FM boundaries, creating a more responsive, collaborative, and high-performing service across the full scope of her responsibilities.

The judging panel praised Karen Morales for her strong focus on employee engagement, innovation, and operational excellence within a healthcare environment that demands both precision and adaptability. Her leadership has delivered measurable improvements across service quality, financial savings, and compliance achievements, while her approach to people development and best practice has strengthened the capability of her wider team. The judges recognised her as an FM professional who understands that sustainable operational excellence is built through culture as much as process, and whose work demonstrates the profound impact that strong facilities management leadership can have on outcomes for staff, patients, and the wider community.

Stay tuned for the Facilities Management Awards UK 2027 cycle, where FM professionals and organisations from across the United Kingdom will once again have the opportunity to submit their most impactful work for independent recognition.

View the full list of winners at fmawards.co.uk/shortlist, and subscribe to the newsletter to stay informed on future award cycles and event news.