Shirley is an accomplished HR professional and people leader with extensive experience leading and delivering transformational change programmes. She has worked in a number of complex sectors including Health, Education and Central Government in Ireland, Australia and the UK. She also chairs the Working Party on Public Employment and Management OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development).

She joined the Civil Service in 2012 and has held a number of senior roles. She has responsibility at Assistant Secretary level for the Public Service Workforce Division in the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery & Reform. This is a new and important role which oversees Civil Service HR Policy, Capability Development, ED&I and Wellbeing, Employee Assistance Services, the Organisational Capability Review Programme and oversees expenditure management in the Justice and Defence sectors.

As pillar lead for Workforce, Workplace and Organisation of the Future under the Better Public Services Strategy, she works closely with senior leaders across this public sector to drive the delivery of targets and actions under this reform plan.