Prior to taking up post as Chief Executive, Olwen Laird had served for approximately 15 years as Director of Corporate Services for the Police Ombudsman, with particular responsibility for Corporate Governance matters.  Prior to this she had headed the finance function in two further and higher education colleges and worked for a time in the Northern Ireland Audit Office.

Recently she served as a member of the Audit and Risk Committee of the Northern Ireland Prison Service and previously as a member of the Audit and Risk Committee for the Compensation Agency.

She is a fellowship member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland and has an MSc in Executive Leadership from Ulster University.