Karen Paterson (Dorante) is a former Chairperson of First Nations Media Australia. Karen is a Wagadagam, Meriam woman with ancestral links through her paternal grandmother to the Wuthathi people of Cape York. She is based in Brisbane and currently manages the National Indigenous Radio Service, NIRS, a role she took on permanently in late 2020. Karen began her journey in radio as a volunteer with 4MW on Thursday Island. This led to a career with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation spanning 17 years. In 2007, Karen joined Brisbane Indigenous Media Association, making a return to community First Nations media.