Non-Executive Director
Jill is a highly experienced corporate and commercial solicitor with a career spanning over two decades. She holds a Law degree from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and a Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of Northumbria, where she was awarded the Law Society prize for Outstanding Performance. She is a qualified solicitor in both England & Wales and Northern Ireland.
Jill trained and practiced in a leading law firm in London before returning to Belfast, where she built a distinguished career at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Allen & Overy LLP (now A&O Shearman LLP). She played a pivotal role in the establishment and expansion of Belfast’s Advanced Delivery Legal division within Allen & Overy LLP, growing the corporate legal team into a highly regarded function within the firm. Her leadership in legal innovation, team development and strategic business growth has been widely recognised.
Jill has recently been appointed as a lecturer on the MSc in Management and Corporate Governance at Ulster University. She is passionate about integrating her wealth of practical experience into academic learning, equipping future leaders with essential corporate governance expertise.
Beyond her professional legal career, Jill holds a number of non-executive roles within the not-for-profit sector, bringing her legal and governance expertise to various organisations. She is committed to the principles of good governance, accountability and ethical leadership.
Jill is delighted to be joining the Northern Ireland Audit Office as a Non-Executive Director and looks forward to contributing to its strategic direction and ongoing success.
Jill will chair the NIAO Remuneration Committee.