Lesley has held a number of public appointments including Deputy Chief Commissioner at the Equality Commission NI and Prisoner Ombudsman NI. In 2023 she completed a Review of Charity Regulation as part of a three-member panel. She is a Presbyterian Minister and served three congregations in North Belfast for 30 years up until 2015. As a Presbyterian Minister, she served on School Boards of Governors and was a Director in a charity working alongside schools to introduce restorative practice into their disciplinary programmes.
Lesley is currently an Assistant Commissioner for Investigations at the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery, working to ensure the Commission’s processes and engagements are trauma and resiliency informed.
Lesley was appointed on 1 July 2022 for a five year period.