"Don't be afraid to change course."
A career that took her from teaching PE to leading a police force was never part of Julie’s original plan.
As a young person, she was certain she wanted to become a teacher. Years later, she would become Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire Police before taking on another unexpected role as Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire. Looking back, Julie describes herself as “a surprise success” – proof that careers rarely follow the path you first expect.
A career that started in the classroom
Julie loved school. Science, geography, history and sport were her favourite subjects, and she was determined to become a PE teacher with biology as her second subject.
“I always thought I was going to be a teacher.”
She studied physical education at one of the country’s leading colleges before accepting her first teaching role at a boarding school in Somerset. On paper, everything was going to plan.
The reality, however, was very different.
“It wasn’t what I’d expected at all.”
Alongside teaching, Julie helped run a boarding house, meaning her responsibilities stretched far beyond the classroom. The long hours quickly became exhausting.
“I remember going home for Christmas, and my mother was amazed. I practically slept for two weeks because I was so tired.”
Rather than seeing this as failure, Julie recognised that something needed to change. She believes many young people feel pressure to choose the perfect career straight away, but her own experience taught her that very few people get it right first time.
“You’d be surprised if you hit the right career first time.”
Finding the right fit
When Julie’s husband left the Merchant Navy to join Avon and Somerset Police, she started looking at policing differently.
“I decided, ‘I think I could do that job.'”
The move proved life changing.
“That was the best move I made.”
At the time, becoming a police officer wasn’t the obvious choice for women. Julie became the first married woman recruited into her force, at a time when many assumed women would leave policing once they started a family. Despite those expectations, she quickly discovered she’d found the career that suited her.
What surprised her most was that policing wasn’t simply about catching criminals.
“It’s a social service. It’s not an arrest service.”
Helping people, solving problems and supporting communities gave Julie the sense of purpose she had been looking for all along.
Building the foundations
Like every new officer, Julie spent her first two years on frontline policing. Although she had a university degree, she wasn’t placed on a fast-track leadership programme.
Looking back, she believes that was one of the greatest advantages she could have had.
“You need to get a grounding in the basics.”
She compares leadership to building a wall.
“You need the bricks in the wall before you can build to the next level.”
Throughout her career, she watched people progress too quickly without developing the experience needed to lead others effectively.
“I saw so many people fall off the fast track.”
For Julie, every role, every challenge and every experience became another brick that prepared her for the next opportunity.
Every experience teaches you something
Early in her policing career, Julie was transferred into the policewomen’s unit, something she initially dreaded.
“I remember crying because it was the last place I wanted to go.”
Instead, she found one of the greatest leaders she would ever work alongside. Her sergeant became a lifelong role model whose leadership style stayed with Julie throughout her own career.
She also realised the teaching skills she thought she’d left behind could become one of her greatest strengths.
“I had to play to my strengths.”
Julie retrained as a police instructor and spent two years teaching new recruits.
“Training adults who want to learn is so different.”
She loved helping people grow in confidence and watching individuals become effective police officers.
Looking back, she believes every role offers something valuable.
“There’s always something you can learn.”
Breaking through barriers
As Julie progressed through the ranks, she faced challenges that had nothing to do with her ability.
Policing was still heavily male dominated, and she regularly encountered attitudes that questioned whether women belonged in senior leadership. She failed promotion boards, experienced discrimination and even took her force to an employment tribunal before deciding to step away for her own wellbeing.
Despite every setback, she refused to give up.
Instead, she continued adding “bricks to the wall” by studying, gaining qualifications, developing her leadership skills and taking every opportunity available.
Looking back, she believes three qualities mattered more than anything else.
“Persistence, resilience and tenacity.”
Leading Cambridgeshire Police
Eventually, years of determination paid off.
Julie achieved her ambition of becoming Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire Police.
“I walked around the office and nipped myself. I couldn’t believe I’d actually achieved it.”
As Chief Constable, Julie focused on improving public confidence in policing while leading the organisation through periods of significant change.
Her leadership was built on experience. She believes understanding change helped her guide others through uncertainty, even when the destination wasn’t immediately clear.
Continuing to serve
Retirement didn’t mean slowing down.
Julie built what she describes as a portfolio career, taking on non-executive and leadership roles across healthcare and public service before another unexpected opportunity arrived.
She was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire.
It wasn’t a role she had ever planned for, but one that perfectly matched her lifelong commitment to public service.
Looking back, she believes her years in policing gave her a deep understanding of the county, its communities and the people who live there.
“I wanted to support the county.”
Today she continues championing charities, businesses, volunteers and community organisations, helping bring people together and celebrating the achievements of others across Cambridgeshire.
Julie's advice to young people
Julie knows that careers rarely follow a straight line.
She started out wanting to teach, discovered policing almost by accident and eventually led an entire police force before becoming one of Cambridgeshire’s highest civic representatives.
She describes herself simply as:
“I’m a surprise success.”
Her advice to young people is straightforward.
“Nothing comes without hard work.”
She also believes networking matters, but only if it’s genuine.
“You have to network – and make it meaningful.”
Most importantly, Julie wants young people to remember that changing direction isn’t something to fear.
“You only have one life. There are so many options. Do what makes you happy.”
Because sometimes the career you never planned for becomes the one you’re meant to have.
“Don’t be afraid to change course.”