Julie has recently been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland. Julie is Head of Environment, Marine and Fisheries Group and has responsibility for Natural Environment Policy, Environmental Resources including waste management, Marine and Fisheries and oversight of the Forest Service Agency. This also includes responsibility for the oversight of the implementation of the Lough Neagh Action Plan and Environment Improvement Plan which were approved by the Executive in 2024. Julie was previously Head of Climate Change, Planning and Public Transport Group in the Department for Infrastructure and has also held senior roles in the Department of Finance and Department of Health.