How E.ON lead, Kara, is shaping the future of AI and inspiring the next generation

For Kara Flook, Emerging Technology Lead at E.ON, that transformation begins with people. Through her work with AI, innovation and immersive learning, as well as her passion for inspiring young people to explore STEM, Kara is helping colleagues, customers and communities discover new possibilities.

Recognised this year on the Tech Women 50 list, Kara’s achievement reflects not only her impact within E.ON but also her growing influence across the wider tech community.

What part of your work in AI and Emerging Tech at E.ON are you most proud of, and how do you see it impacting the energy sector in the next few years?

I’m most proud of driving people-first progress such as using AI and emerging tech to help colleagues, customers, and the business thrive. Rolling out M365 Copilot has been a standout, especially through our partnership with the Neurodiversity Network. By reducing cognitive load and removing barriers, we’ve shown how AI can make work more inclusive, save time, and spark creativity.

We’re already seeing big results, and as adoption grows, the benefits will scale. Less time on repetitive tasks, more time for innovation. Enabling our Net Zero Training Academy with AI avatars and Extended Reality has also been transformative, delivering flexible, engaging training while cutting travel, costs, and carbon impact.

Looking ahead, AI and XR will accelerate digitalisation, enable predictive maintenance, and create immersive environments for training and decision-making, which builds a smarter, more sustainable energy system and empowering people to innovate.

What inspired you to start working with schools and encouraging young people, especially girls, to pursue STEM and tech careers?

Too often, I’ve been the only woman in the room and that made me question why. Misconceptions about tech careers persist, so I wanted to go back to the source: early education. My own journey proves a career in tech is accessible. I started with a degree in dance and found my way into emerging technologies through curiosity, continuous learning and utilising my soft skills.

I was encouraged to join E.ON’s Employer Advisor scheme, and that gave me a platform to connect with schools and make a difference locally. Representation matters. When girls see someone like them leading in tech, it changes what they believe is possible. Sharing my story helps show there’s no single path into tech and that diversity of backgrounds, experiences and perspective is what makes this industry thrive

Being named on the Tech Women 50 list is a huge achievement. What advice would you give to other women aiming to make an impact in AI or emerging technologies?

Keep value as your true north, but remember, value isn’t just about return on investment. It’s also about return on employees and return on future. Make sure you take your people with you on the tech journey. Showcase the benefits not just for the business, but for colleagues and customers because technology should empower people and create better experiences for everyone.

Embrace difference- your perspective brings unique value, and innovation thrives when different strengths come together. I work in a team of three, all with the same job title, but we approach our role completely differently. When we combine those skills, it’s like creating a unicorn—something rare and powerful that none of us could achieve alone.

And don’t wait! Experiment, learn, and share ideas. Innovation doesn’t wait, so neither should you.

What do you think are the most exciting trends or breakthroughs coming in AI that people outside the field might not be aware of yet?

One of the biggest shifts is the rise of Agentic AI which are systems that go beyond responding to prompts and start taking initiative. Think of it as moving generative AI to the next level: digital collaborators that can manage complex workflows autonomously, freeing people to focus on creativity and strategic thinking.

The convergence of AI with immersive technologies like Extended Reality is another great breakthrough. This collaboration has the power to transform how we operate, creating interactive environments where engineers can explore systems visually through 3D models or Augmented Reality glasses, simulate scenarios, and make confident decisions in real time.

Quantum-enabled AI is another exciting area of research. Quantum computing is still in its early stages and largely experimental, but its ability to process vast possibilities simultaneously holds huge potential. When quantum principles are applied to AI algorithms, they could one day solve complex challenges, such as grid stability, energy optimisation, and large-scale simulations, far faster than today’s systems.

How do you balance industry work with community outreach, and what keeps you motivated?

Balancing both is about carving out space for the things you value and choosing opportunities that fit naturally into your role and schedule. Being part of E.ON’s Employer Advisor network gives me the chance to share my experiences and make meaningful connections. Working with local schools brings the impact close to home while making it convenient and accessible.

Community outreach also supports my own development, giving me opportunities to practise skills and engage in activities I might not encounter in my day-to-day role.

What keeps me motivated is representation. Seeing someone’s confidence grow or hearing, ‘I didn’t think tech was for me until today,’ is powerful. It reinforces that technology isn’t just about systems: it’s about creating possibilities for everyone.

Lighting the way forward

Kara’s work highlights how technology and human insight can come together to unlock meaningful progress — whether that’s enabling colleagues through inclusive AI, supporting the development of future green skills, or sparking confidence in the next generation of innovators.

Her commitment to both digital transformation and community impact embodies the spirit of those pivotal realisations that change how we learn, work and imagine the future. As AI and emerging technologies accelerate, it’s clear that people like Kara will continue lighting the way forward.