Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Certification
Affiliations
Personal Information
Timeline
Generic

Karen Balbalosa

Demand and Supply Chain Leader
14 Bulbi St.,NSW

Summary

Supply chain and demand planning leader with extensive experience across diverse industries. Recognized for establishing streamlined processes, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and driving strategic decision-making. Proficient in Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) frameworks, stakeholder engagement, and optimizing inventory management. Successfully led and coached teams in implementing demand planning best practices, resulting in cost savings and process enhancements.

Overview

2025
2025
years of professional experience
1996
1996
years of post-secondary education
6
6
Certifications

Work History

Supply Chain Planning Manager

Guzman y Gomez
7 2024 - Current

Responsible for providing critical support to GYG Restaurants, ensuring smooth operations by managing monthly forecasts at multiple levels and refining assumptions, and collaborating with suppliers to address gaps, streamline processes, and enhance service delivery across the supply chain.

  • Developed an inventory tool for GYG restaurants, enabling root cause analysis to identify and address stockouts effectively.
  • Established supplier collaboration to review and align forecast assumptions, ensuring consistent stock availability, minimizing stockouts, and enhancing operational efficiency.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to optimize procurement strategies and supplier relationships.

Integrated Business Planning Manager

The Arnott's Group
06.2023 - 07.2024

Responsible for overseeing the development, implementation, and management of demand forecasting strategies to optimize inventory levels, enhance supply chain efficiency, and meet customer demand effectively.

  • Formulated and implemented the demand planning strategy, driving enhancements in people, processes, and digital solutions.
  • Played a leadership role in spearheading the representation of the demand stream as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) in a critical business transformation project, shaping the future direction of demand planning.
  • Architected the framework for the new demand forecast system.
  • Delivered forecast accuracy improvements by 6 points.
  • Designed data visualization tools to uncover actionable insights, improving forecasting strategies.
  • Optimized supply chain management by analyzing data, identifying inefficiencies, and implementing process improvements for cost reduction.
  • Mentored junior team members by providing guidance on best practices for project management techniques and fostering a culture of continuous learning within the team.

APAC Market Planning & Retail Operations Manager

Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP)
07.2021 - 06.2023

Oversees all market and demand planning activities for the business to ensure right products in the right place at the right time

  • Leads the market planning process, ensuring solid retail, wholesale, and inventory targets are used to drive supply planning and decision-making across the business.
  • Developed and implemented a comprehensive Sales and Operations Planning framework for the APAC region to align business objectives with operational plans, resulting in a 25% forecast accuracy improvement.
  • Achieved a significant milestone in APAC, delivering 20% growth.
  • Achieved $1M freight savings through enhanced forecast accuracy.
  • Enhanced communication channels for the dealer network, resulting in elevated NPS ratings.

Head of Demand Planning

Kimberly Clark
06.2017 - 06.2021

Responsible for developing and implementing strategies to effectively forecast demand.

  • Leads a team of demand planners to ensure accuracy in demand forecasts, optimize inventory levels, and support overall business objectives through effective demand planning processes.
  • Enhanced customer collaboration to align on demand forecasts, building stronger relationships, and enhancing overall customer satisfaction level, resulting in a 98% service level.
  • Implemented a robust demand planning process, fostering greater cross-functional alignment and communication across sales, marketing, operations, and finance. This process breaks down silos, promotes information sharing, and enables faster decision making.
  • Reduced working capital by 20% through forecast accuracy enhancements.
  • Spearheaded the project as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) to develop and integrate a demand forecasting model.

Demand & Supply Planning Manager- ANZ

Danone Nutricia
06.2016 - 06.2017

Responsible for overseeing the demand planning and supply planning functions within the Nutricia business.

  • Leads the Sales and Operations Planning process to review demand forecast, production plans, and inventory levels.
  • Established the demand planning function and implemented robust processes to support demand forecasting and inventory management activities, reducing forecast errors by 15%.
  • Designed standardized demand planning processes, aligning input from sales, marketing, and finance to generate a consensus-based demand forecast resulting in a significant improvement in S&OP maturity from 45 to 85.

Senior Demand Planner

The Arnott's Group
01.2015 - 05.2016

Responsible for analyzing data, trends, and market dynamics to create demand forecasts that support inventory optimization, meet customer needs, and drive business growth.

  • Achieved a significant improvement in accuracy, reducing forecast errors by 20%.
  • Enhanced cross-functional collaboration and alignment by providing actionable insights to sales, finance, and supply chain teams.
  • Achieved customer recognition through a collaborative partnership with a retail partner.

Senior Demand Planner

Glaxo SmithKline (GSK)
09.2013 - 01.2015
  • Collaborated closely with sales and marketing teams to incorporate market insights into demand forecasts accurately.
  • Streamlined the S&OP process, effectively aligning supply and demand plans.

Senior Demand Planner

Campbell Arnotts
03.2011 - 08.2013
  • Streamlined the S&OP process, effectively aligning supply and demand plans.
  • Enhanced supply chain efficiency through effective collaboration with cross-functional teams.
  • Led continuous improvement initiatives for the demand planning function, driving performance improvements across the organization.

Demand Analyst

Carlton & United Breweries
06.2008 - 03.2011
  • Participated in S&OP meetings to present findings from demand analysis activities, providing valuable input into decision-making processes.

Demand Planner

Nestle Australia Ltd
01.2007 - 06.2008
  • Led monthly consensus meetings with stakeholders from various departments including Sales, Marketing, Finance and Supply Chain.

Demand Planner

Unilever Australia
07.2003 - 12.2007
  • Conducted root cause analysis on forecast errors, identifying areas for improvement and implementing corrective actions.

Education

Bachelor's Degree - Commerce & Arts, Business Management & Psychology

De La Salle University
Manila, Philippines

Skills

Team Leadership

Demand and Supply Planning

Written and Verbal Communication

ERP Systems

Cross Functional Collaboration

Project Management

Sales and Operations Planning

Problem Solving

Strategy

Supplier Relationship Management

Supply Chain Optimization

Certification

Supply Chain Technology, ASCM , June 2024

Affiliations

Association for Supply Chain Management

Personal Information

Hobbies: Yoga & Wellness retreats, Traveling and exploring other cultures, Cooking Class, Vintage shopping, Continuing education

Timeline

Integrated Business Planning Manager

The Arnott's Group
06.2023 - 07.2024

APAC Market Planning & Retail Operations Manager

Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP)
07.2021 - 06.2023

Head of Demand Planning

Kimberly Clark
06.2017 - 06.2021

Demand & Supply Planning Manager- ANZ

Danone Nutricia
06.2016 - 06.2017

Senior Demand Planner

The Arnott's Group
01.2015 - 05.2016

Senior Demand Planner

Glaxo SmithKline (GSK)
09.2013 - 01.2015

Senior Demand Planner

Campbell Arnotts
03.2011 - 08.2013

Demand Analyst

Carlton & United Breweries
06.2008 - 03.2011

Demand Planner

Nestle Australia Ltd
01.2007 - 06.2008

Demand Planner

Unilever Australia
07.2003 - 12.2007

Supply Chain Planning Manager

Guzman y Gomez
7 2024 - Current

Bachelor's Degree - Commerce & Arts, Business Management & Psychology

De La Salle University
Karen BalbalosaDemand and Supply Chain Leader