Judith Gillespie grew up in North Belfast.  She joined the RUC GC in 1982, having been turned down twice, and was the first woman in the history of the RUC/PSNI to become an Assistant Chief Constable in May 2004. 

A graduate of the FBI National Executive Institute, she holds a Masters Degree in Applied Criminology from the University of Cambridge.  She became Deputy Chief Constable in 2009, was awarded an OBE in the Birthday Honours in June of the same year, an Honorary Doctorate from Queen's University Belfast in July 2012, and a CBE in the Birthday Honours in June 2014.  She was a Chief Officer in PSNI for 11 years, helping to lead the organisation through significant, transformational change.   A keen sportswoman, she chaired the Board of the Belfast 2013 World Police and Fire Games, delivering the “friendliest and most successful Games ever”.

On leaving PSNI in March 2014 she became an independent leadership advisor, championing the cause of vulnerable victims and survivors.  She has served on a number of public bodies including for five years as a founding member of the Garda Policing Authority.  She recently chaired the Inter Departmental Working Group on Mother and Baby Homes, Magdalene Laundries and Historical Clerical Child Abuse.  She is a member of the Prison Service Pay Review Body and co-chair of the assessment panel for the much sought after Diversity Mark.